Mikel Arteta's Arsenal needed a late goal to beat Wolves on Saturday evening after a huge stroke of luck to take the lead ended in late drama
22:00, 13 Dec 2025Updated 22:07, 13 Dec 2025
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Mikel Arteta's side needed a late winner(Image: AP)
Mikel Arteta will be counting his lucky stars on Saturday evening, as the Gunners needed a last gasp goal to beat Wolves.
Arsenal had been slow and sluggish - unable to break down the resolute Wolves defence that sat deep and held firm. It looked like a potentially embarrassing evening as Arteta scrambled for answers off the bench.
It was the worst performance the Gunners had produced all season, like a team hoping to find answers from questions they hadn't studied. There was an injection of pace missing - and it was all too easy for Wolves to clear their lines.
Arsenal had a huge stroke of luck to take the lead
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Arsenal had a huge stroke of luck to take the lead(Image: Getty Images)
And Arteta wasn't quite addressing it - there was no change after half-time, and the pace stayed slow. He had to change something, but his substitutes only slowed the pace down further.
Wolves have looked toothless all season, but on Saturday they appeared to finally be part of a team as they worked as one to deny Arsenal.
Arsenal looked to their favourite method: a corner. And when Bukayo Saka whipped the ball into the box, in ended up in the back of the net in quite an unorthodox way.
Bukayo Saka's two crossed helped the Gunners to victory
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Bukayo Saka's two crossed helped the Gunners to victory(Image: Getty Images)
Saka's cross lopped over everyone, hit the inside of the post and off the back of Sam Johnstone's back and over the line.
It looked like Arsenal had managed to grind out an ugly win for Arsenal, but a win that keeps distance between themsleves Manchester City and Aston Villa.
However, Wolves had other ideas and grew into the game as Arsenal retreated - and after a great ball into the box, Wolves were level and the Emirates Stadium was stunned.
And yet Arsenal still showed fight, the ball came in from Saka, hitting Yerson Mosquera, who turned it into his own net.
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It was heartbreak for Wolves, but huge relief for the Gunners - who reestablished their five point gap at the top the table.