It was far from vintage Arsenal, but Mikel Arteta's side just about got over the line against the Premier League's basement dwellers, Wolves.
A frustrating first 60 minutes saw theGunnersfail to register a single shot on target and look devoid of creativity. In contrast, their opponents appeared reenergised and disciplined.
It took something incredibly fortunate for Arsenal to finally take the lead, asBukayo Saka's corner hit the upright and then struckSam Johnstoneon the back of the head, before trickling into the back of the net.
Wolves then dramatically equalised in the 90th minute, as Tolu Arokodare headed home, but then in the game's dying embers, the returning Gabriel Jesus forced **Yerson Mosquera**to head into his own net and give the league leaders the win.
The win moves the North London side five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, while Wolves remain 12 points from safety, but perhaps this performance can give them the platform to build upon and try to get out of this tumultuous period.
Story of the match
Wolves maintained their shape for the opening 20 minutes of the game and did not allow Arsenal any space to exploit.
Edwards’ team had clearly learnt a few lessons from Monday night's heavy defeat to Manchester United, and Mikel Arteta’s men were limited to dead balls to create opportunities, and even they were not at their usual sparkling best.
As the first half minutes ticked by and the home side were still failing to create any genuine chances, an air of frustration was emerging at the Emirates Stadium. From both the fans and the players, a feeling that Wolves standing firm against Arsenal’s usually insatiable attack was almost going against the script.
This feeling was only exacerbated when Hwang Hee-chan found himself in acres of space to run into after an Arsenal corner, literally the entirety of the opposition’s half was at the South Korean international’s mercy.
Five red shirts chased after him desperately as he bore down on goal, but his effort was a tame one and was easily saved by David Raya. Arsenal were committing a lot of men forward, and this Wolves’ counterattack was a warning to the league leaders.
A flurry of half-chances fell to Gabriel Martinelli, but he failed to convert and was rapidly becoming the poster child for the annoyance being felt around the ground.
Prior to this game, only one team had reached halftime at the Emirates without conceding a goal this season: Manchester City. Well, you can now add Wolves to that list as well, as they managed to hold the league leaders to a goalless first 45 minutes.
There were, bizarrely, a smattering of boos around the stadium as the referee blew the whistle for the interval. If you ever needed proof that football fans are fickle, that was it.
After 15 minutes of the second half, nothing much had changed, and Arteta responded with three substitutes in one go, in a bid to inject some life into his team.
Wolves, even in their wildest dreams, could not have imagined restricting Arsenal to as few chances as they had. After 60 minutes of football, the Gunners had not registered a single shot on target and had not really created anything resembling a chance. That was until Declan Rice let loose from the edge of the box and forced a great save from Sam Johnstone.
It was going to take something special, something unique, a bit of luck for Arsenal, and that is precisely what they got, as **Bukayo**Saka’s inswinging corner hit the post and then bounced off Wolves keeper Johnstone’s head, and then into the back of the net.
It was horrendously unlucky for the Midlands’ side, and entirely undeserved, but when your luck is out, it is well and truly out.
You would expect that, given the odd nature of the goal, it may well have killed off Wolves' spirit, but, instead, Edwards’ men picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and once again stood up to Arsenal, and even created a couple of half-chances themselves.
And my oh my, were they rewarded for that, as on the 90th minute, Mateus Mané put a ball into the box, and Tolu Arokodare was there to head it home and give the bottom side an almost implausible equaliser.
But then, with mere minutes remaining, Arsenal retook the lead, as the returning Gabriel Jesus made his presence felt, forcing Yerson Mosquera to head into his own net and the Gunners to the win—an astonishing end to a remarkable game.