It’s going to be a long five months for Gooners if the win over Wolves is anything to go by
EMIRATES STADIUM — If any Premier League win can be called jittery then surely it was this: a narrow, last-gasp victory for the leaders against a side who technically scored all three goals and are on course to break Derby County’s hopeless record.
It was giving April 2023 vibes. Back then, Arsenal were top of the Premier League, leading Manchester City in the table with just a handful of games to go.
Arsenal proceeded to draw three in a row, and I was reporting from the Emirates for the 3-3 with Southampton when the Gunners fought back late on for a point but cleared the way for City to overtake them – which Pep Guardiola’s side did unwaveringly.
On that night, this ground was a cauldron bubbling over in frustration as dreams of ending the then 19-year wait faded in front of Gooners’ very eyes.
But this time, it isn’t April. It’s mid-December, and yet the experience was similar. A rollercoaster of emotions in the space of just minutes, with the face of Wolves’ Yerson Mosquera sparing Arsenal’s blushes in the 94th minute just moments after the visitors levelled and plenty near the media seats had made for the exit.
And while this time the title hopes have not exactly faded, given there are 22 league matches to go, with the Emirates a bag of nerves already, this could be the longest five months Arsenal fans have experienced for years.
“That’s nowhere near the required level,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said. “We’re relieved because we managed to score a goal at the end and go and win it but we need to improve.
“You have to give credit to Wolves. I knew that wasn’t going to be an easy game but we made it even harder with the manner we conceded the goal. And that’s unacceptable.”
The problem with facing a side like Wolverhampton Wanderers is assumption. Every home fan has arrived expecting a win, with bookmakers making an Arsenal 6-0 scoreline only slightly longer in odds than a Wolves victory.
What transpired though was perhaps Wolves’ best show of fight so far in this torrid season, and an indication of things to come for Arsenal if clubs set up as defensively as Rob Edwards’ side did.
Wolves were justified in this approach. With just two points so far even one more would be a step closer to bettering Derby’s record-low haul of 11.
Sam Johnstone did his best to get Wolves a point or three. His time-wasting was straight out of the top drawer, as was his save to deny an increasingly frustrated Arsenal when producing a world-class save to deny Declan Rice an opener.
And while Wolves had chances themselves to break the deadlock, Arsenal never truly looked overly threatening. Up against a wall, they drew blanks, and had to rely on the fortune of Bukayo Saka’s corner hitting the post and going in off the back of Johnstone to take the lead.
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Tolu Arokodare’s 90th-minute header then felt like the suckerpunch, only for more fortune at the death, and while luck has a big role to play in title pursuits, further performances like this against sterner opposition will only prove detrimental.
Three points are three points are three points, but the manner of how these points were earned feels unsustainable with Manchester City lurking.
Guardiola’s side were meant to be the hunters for months. At this rate it wouldn’t be a surprise if they’re top by the New Year.