Always Wolves
Always Wolves
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Gut-wrenching Arsenal 2-1 Wolves fan reaction as Always Wolves share pride, late heartbreak and why this performance at the Emirates can still spark belief.
Gut-wrenching. That is the only word that really fits this one. As Dave put it, it felt like his insides had been ripped out after that finish at the Emirates.
Yet for all the pain of a 94th-minute defeat, there is one thing that shines through the most for Wolves fans tonight: we did not deserve to lose. Not with that fight, not with that organisation, and not after scoring the best goal of the game.
This was a night where a team rock bottom of the Premier League went toe-to-toe with a side at the top, in their own backyard, and scared the life out of them. Every Wolves fan heading back up to the Midlands can feel proud of their team.
Heartbreak in London
From the first whistle, Wolves were on the back foot. It was always going to be that way away at Arsenal, with the gulf in form and confidence between the two sides.
Arsenal had the ball, Wolves sat deep, and it was all about shape and concentration. Slowly though, Wolves began to grow into it. Hwang had a really strong driving run, there were a couple of promising breaks, and you could see a plan starting to show.
Everyone outside the away end expected a comfortable home win. Some were even joking about 10–0 or 11–0 scorelines. Instead, the league leaders needed two own goals to get over the line, and even then they were hanging on.
That is why this one hurts so much. Wolves battled, stayed organised, and grew braver as the match went on. To come away with nothing, in that manner, is brutal.
Freak goals, a magic equaliser, and a cruel finish
The first Arsenal goal summed up what it feels like to be a club at the bottom.
A looping effort in the second half hit the inside of the post, bounced back, smacked off Sam on the back of the head, and rolled into the net. Sam had already made a good save in the move, then the ball did him in the cruellest way. You cannot script that kind of luck, unless you are Arsenal.
For long spells, Arsenal struggled to break Wolves down. There were a few close shaves, but nothing that really carved us open. Then a freak ricochet, and we are behind.
Wolves did not fold. Far from it. The team pushed higher, Arsenal sat deeper, and the away side looked more and more like they could nick something.
Then came the moment that made every Wolves fan explode. A brilliant cross from the left from Matheus Mane the young lad off the bench, and Tolu in the box where it hurts, attacking it, powering his header home for 1-1 in the 90th minute. A proper striker’s goal, with a proper delivery.
The away end went wild. It felt like a point had been earned the hard way, against all odds.
Then, heartbreak.
Arsenal swung in another cross, Wolves did not stop it at source. The ball skipped past Johnstone and went in off Yerson for the second own goal of the night. Right at the death. Lucky, scruffy, horrible from our point of view, but just the kind of goal that falls for a team chasing the title.
From the high of the equaliser to the low of that winner in a couple of minutes. That is why everyone feels sick tonight.
Fight, structure, and a proper Wolves performance
Take the result away for a second. Look at the performance.
This Wolves side has taken hit after hit this season. Late goals, poor transfer window, off-the-pitch unrest, players questioned, manager questioned, fans frustrated.
Tonight, though, there was:
Real structure in the shape
Clear organisation at the back
Huge heart and battle all over the pitch
The three in midfield, Krejci, André and Gomes, gave Wolves energy and bite in the middle of the park. They missed Gomes badly against Manchester United and you could see why here. He broke up play, used the ball well, and helped Wolves get higher up the pitch.
At the back, the defence stayed compact and calm. Doc coming back into the side added a cool head. There was one concern with how often Saka got the better of Moller Wolfe, but in general the unit looked solid and together.
For a team with no wins in 16 league games, to go to the league leaders and make them nervous, quieten their fans, and have them breathing a sigh of relief at full-time, that says a lot.
Subs, young talent and Rob’s big calls
Rob Edwards got a lot right on the night.
The substitutions were positive, not passive. He looked to change the game, not just protect a narrow defeat.
Matheus Mane who came on delivered a top-quality cross for the equaliser, the kind of ball that defenders hate and strikers love. Tolu, once again, came off the bench and caused havoc. He has a knack for turning up in the right place in the box and he did it again with his goal.
Every sub that came on made an impact. They pressed, chased, and pushed Arsenal back towards their own area.
You could see the emotion on Rob’s face at full-time. He must have been asking himself how Wolves lost that game, but he can also be proud. Proud of the plan, proud of the changes, and proud of the response from his players.
Rui Silva’s influence behind the scenes was mentioned as well, with fans feeling like he is starting to make his mark.
Can this be a turning point for Wolves?
Let’s not dress it up. The wider picture is tough.
16 Premier League games, no wins
20 games in all competitions without a win
Just 2 points on the board
A summer window that did not go to plan
Fans, owners and background noise creating a cloud around the club
Yet tonight felt different.
For the first time in a while, Wolves looked like a proper team again. There was ascendancy at times, real tenacity, and a connection between players and fans. The away end at full-time told its own story, with supporters applauding the players and the players applauding them straight back.
As Stan said, the team does not just need the fans now, they deserve the fans to be right behind them.
Brentford is coming up and everyone knows Wolves need a win. The players deserve one for this kind of effort. Results have to come, but if they perform like that most weeks, they will not keep losing.
This might not be the result to kick-start the season in the table, but it can be the performance that kick-starts the belief.
Have your say and back the boys
If you watched the match, or even just the highlights, you will know how hard this one is to take. But you will also know how much pride there is in that performance.
Watch the full instant fan reaction in the video above, then let your thoughts out in the comments. Were Arsenal lucky? Who was your man of the match? Do you see this as a turning point?
Gut-Wrenching Arsenal 2-1 Wolves: Instant Fan Reaction & Pride After Late Heartbreak