The Brazilian headed a 94th-minute winner past the outstanding Sam Johnstone after Tolu Arokodare had cancelled out the Wolves’ goalkeeper’s own goal.
Mikel Arteta opted to bring the returning William Saliba back into the team, having missed the Gunners’ last four games with injury, whilst summer signing Viktor Gyokeres replaced Martin Odegaard in the starting line-up as the Arsenal captain ramps up his return to full fitness.
In typical fashion, Arsenal looked to take the game to Rob Edwards’ side from the first kick of the ball. Saka’s willingness to run at David Møller Wolfe had the Wolves defender scurrying back to desperately defend his box on several occasions throughout the first 20 minutes – the first signs of a draining evening for Wolfe.
Despite the timely return of Saliba, Arsenal’s injury woes deepened as Ben White was withdrawn at the half-hour mark with what looked like an achilles problem as he was replaced by England World Cup hopeful Myles Lewis-Skelly.
As the familiar sight of an away team’s low block at the Emirates Stadium stood firm inside Wolves’ territory, the Gunners were taken by surprise when a break in play allowed Hwang Hee-Chan the opportunity to run through on goal before firing straight at David Raya.
It was a big let-off for Arsenal, who were struggling to build any kind of momentum in the Wolves half as frustrations built inside the stadium.
A toothless attacking display in the first 45 minutes preceded a rise of intensity after half-time, but Arteta chose to stick with the team he had initially selected and made no changes at half-time.
But it took the Arsenal boss just 11 minutes to turn to his bench, as Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino replaced Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Zubimendi.
Wolves forward Chan was then booked for a rash challenge on Lewis-Skelly after VAR had checked and cleared any possible serious foul play.
Arteta continued to look frustrated on the touchline as Wolves’ staunch defensive unit relentlessly thwarted waves of Arsenal attacks.
Viktor Gyokeres, who had another underwhelming first-half performance, was quick to get on the end of a Bukayo Saka cross, but his header flashed just wide of the far post.
With the visitors looking to counter Arsenal with both Chan and Strand Larsen waiting to pounce on any loose balls, Declan Rice stepped up with an attempt to recreate his Real Madrid free-kick heroics in the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League, but his dipping strike was tipped over the bar by Johnstone.
From the resulting corner, Arteta’s side finally broke the deadlock in the 67th minute from Bukayo Saka’s brilliant delivery.
The England winger whipped in a deep ball to the far post with Johnstone airborne and stretching out an arm to claw it away from danger, but the ball struck the crossbar before rebounding in off the Wolves goalkeeper to give the Premier League leaders the advantage.
From this point on in the match, Arteta’s side raised the intensity but were seemingly unable to apply the finishing touches. The Arsenal boss even turned to Gabriel Jesus, whose half-hour cameo in the 3-0 midweek Champions League win over Club Brugge had many Arsenal fans purring.
The Brazilian replaced the struggling Gyokeres and was welcomed back from an 11-month anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury lay-off with a collective cheer from the home support.
A flurry of late Wolves attacks had Arsenal rocking throughout the last few minutes of normal time, and the hosts retreated to fend off the onslaught.
But substitute Tolu Arokodare drew Rob Edwards’ team level, nodding home a deft header past Raya to salvage what looked like a late point for the Premier League’s bottom club.
The onus was then on the Gunners to look for a winner if they wanted to re-establish their five-point lead at the top, and they got it through the returning Jesus.
Bukayo Saka held off pressure from Yerson Mosquera before swinging in a cross to find the Brazilian, who brilliantly planted a header past Johnstone to snatch the points for the hosts and regain their advantage at the Premier League summit.