Always Wolves
Always Wolves
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A daunting trip to the capital in more ways than one. Always a tough away trip to the league leaders brimming with confidence while Wolves are still without a league win this season a run stretching back until April and 19 games.
Tough game to see us get anything from but the travelling support will want to see a better performance than the two home games last witnessed at the very least.
Team news and more woe with the news that Bellegarde who finally scores Wolves first goal since October went off with a hamstring injury which will see him out for at least 6 weeks joining Munetsi and Rodrigo Gomes on the injury list.
Arsenal themselves have their own injury problems in defence with their first choice centre backs Saliba and Gabriel both out injured in recent weeks joining their own injury list but Arsenal fans will be boosted by the sight of seeing Saliba back in defence after playing Norgaard as a makeshift centre half in the Champions League. Unlike Wolves, Arsenal do have plenty of strength in depth and plenty of other attacking options to call upon with players like Madueke and Odegaard on the bench who they can call upon.
Team lineups
Arsenal XI
Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Wolverhampton Wanderers XI
Johnstone, Doherty, Mosquera, Agbadou, Toti, Wolfe, Andre, Gomes, Krejci, Larsen, Hwang
First Half
The first half game plan of sitting deeper and soaking up the pressure was working well. Limiting the hosts to minimal chances with Johnstone in goal being well protected.
As expected Arsenal were dominating the ball but not doing a lot with it.
Hwang who was in his own half but behind the Arsenal defence had the ball fall to him and he sprinted towards the Arsenal goal. He had a couple yards head start but was getting caught up all the time by the chasing Arsenal defenders.(5 of them) Hwang took the ball slightly wide before hitting a decent effort which a keeper of Raya ability was always going to save.
In the pursuing foot race Arsenal left back pulled up which looked like a hamstring injury he was replaced by Lewis-Skelly.
Arsenal kept probing and with everyone knowing how good Arsenal are at set pieces it was no surprise that their best chance came from a corner. Rice bent one in over to the far post where Martinelli of all people found himself completely unmarked at the back post but somehow managed to head the ball high and back across goal to the relief of all connected with Wolves.
Saka who has a history of tormenting Wolves left backs was being well marshalled but a player of his quality will always create something and he got in a dangerous low cross which went across the box, the Wolves back three left it and it found its way to that man again Martinelli (who in midweek had become the first Arsenal player to score in 5 consecutive Champions League games) but his shot was deflected wide.
On the stroke of half time Wolves had a chance when a Wolfe cross found its way to Larsen but he found his shot was blocked by Hincapie the Arsenal defenders.
Going in at 0-0 was very positive and seeing the organisation and discipline of the team gave us all hope moving into the second half.
Second Half.
With Arsenal top of the league and expecting a comfortable win you had to expect Arteta would have been getting into his players at half time to up the tempo.
Wolves were standing firm, the game plan they had been working on all week was believed in, everyone doing their job and focused.
Hwang was lucky after taking a heavy touch he desperately slid to get the ball. On first viewing it was heart in mouth time as it looked like he had swiped out Lewis-Skelly but after a VAR check it was deemed that he had tried to pull out the challenge and he escaped with a yellow.
Not long after Doherty was also in the book for a cynical foul on the Arsenal attacker.
Wolves made two changes bringing on Tolu for Larsen and Tchatchoua for Doherty.
Rice then had a curling effort from distance that Johnstone saves well and pushing the ball out wide from danger.
Arsenal finally broke the deadlock and a sign of Wolves luck when a in swinging Saka corner hit the far post and then into the back of the net off the back of the Wolves goalkeeper.
70 mins – Arsenal 1 Wolves 0
Edwards then decided it was time for some attacking changes Hwang made way for Arias and Lopez came on for Krejci.
Wolves started to pile forward and Arsenal the league leaders fell into a low block of their own.
Another throw of the dice saw Mane come on for Toti.
This then paid off as Wolves probing on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area the ball fell for the youngster, with no Arsenal player closing him down he had time to deliver the ball into the box and Tolu subtly guided header found the back of the net to send the away fans wild over by the left corner flag of the goal.
Limbs were everywhere as Tolu’s 90th minute equaliser may give the boys from the black country an unlikely point.
90th Min Arsenal 1 Wolves 1
To sum up how the season has gone this far in the 94th minute a Saka cross was turned in by Mosquera for Arsenal’s second, and a second own goal against Wolves for the evening.
94th min Arsenal 2 Wolves 1.
A devastating defeat in a game everyone including any positive Wolves fan would have given us no hope in.
Wolves players and staff went over to the away end to be sung off by the travelling support with the disappointment of defeat clear to see on the players. But if they can once again replicate that hardworking disciplined performance then the Wolves fans will back them.
The final say.
A much improved performance following back to back home defeats. A clear structure and game plan was clear to see with the players carrying it out to the letter. A lot of positives to be taken despite another defeat. Myself I feel this is the blueprint for this team in how we need to play. We are simply not good enough to open up and try and out play the opposition as we don’t have enough goals and quality to out score them.
Is it pretty? No, Is it exciting to watch No. But in a season which we all know we will be going down barring a miracle of all miracles then just getting points on the board should be the priority now.
I feel the fans need to lift them also. Protest before and after games if need be possibly outside the ground but inside the stadium let’s rally behind them as I do see players who care and haven’t downed tools. The players as well as the fans have been let down by the powers that be of the club and have left this squad to the Wolves so to speak.
If we can make the noise to lift them especially at Molineux I feel that can be the final piece for Rob Edwards and the boys to getting that first victory of the season. COYW.
Heartbreak in the Capital: Arsenal 2 Wolves 1