Arsenal beat Wolves 2–1, but the score does not tell the full story. This was not a calm or controlled night; it was tense and messy, shaped by pressure and late fortune. Two Wolves own goals decided the match rather than clear Arsenal dominance. The return of key players helped late on, but the performance still raised doubts about control and clarity in tight games.
Arsenal Edge Wolves but Rely on Late Drama and Pressure
Arsenal came into the match top of the league with Manchester City close behind, leaving no room for mistakes. Wolves arrived at the bottom but were well organised, disciplined, and hard to break down. Gunners have struggled against deep defences in recent weeks, and this game followed the same pattern. Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber returned to the starting side with William Saliba, and Leandro Trossard got in at 57 minutes by substituting Martín Zubimendi. The hope was that these returns would bring calm and balance during a demanding part of the season.
What the Arsenal-Wolves Win Really Says About Control and Depth
Arsenal controlled possession from the start but struggled to create clear chances. Rice gave structure in midfield, protected the defence, and kept Wolves pinned back. Even so, the tempo was slow and predictable. Wolves stayed compact, forced Arsenal wide, and limited space in central areas.
Arsenal kept pushing even when the game felt stuck. The ball moved side to side, waiting for space that never really opened. Wolves stayed deep and trusted their shape. But Arsenal looked short of ideas at times; set pieces became the main threat. Saka’s delivery kept Wolves under pressure and forced mistakes. This showed both strength and weakness. Arsenal never stopped believing, but they also relied on moments rather than patterns. Against stronger teams this may not be enough. Control must turn into chances if Arsenal want to stay ahead in the title race.
The breakthrough came in the 70th minute, but it was fortunate. Bukayo Saka’s corner deflected off goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and crossed the line. Relief followed, but Arsenal failed to finish the game. That lack of control was significant.
In the 89th minute, Wolves equalised through substitute Tolu Arokodare, exposing a brief loss of focus. Anxiety spread quickly Arteta responded by bringing on Saliba to steady the back line. Deep into stoppage time another Saka delivery caused panic, and defender Yerson Mosquera headed into his own net under pressure. Arsenal took the points through pressure and persistence rather than authority.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🔙 Saliba and Timber return to the backline
⚓️ Rice in the middle
©️ Saka with the armband
Let's do this, Gunners ✊
🤝 Presented by @deel
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 13, 2025
Fan reaction was mixed.
Relief came first celebration followed later. Social media is filled with debate about performance versus result. Some praised the mentality to keep pushing until the end. Others pointed to the lack of creativity and reliance on opposition mistakes. Many questioned whether the returning players truly changed the game or simply limited the damage. Winning ugly became both a defence and a concern.
Impact
The three points keep Arsenal top of the table and maintain momentum. Still the performance offers a warning. Rice and Saliba add stability and help manage workload, but they do not fix deeper issues against compact teams. As tougher fixtures arrive, they will need more clarity in attack. Late chaos cannot be the plan every week in a title race.
Author’s Opinion
In my view Arsenal escaped rather than impressed. The returning players steadied the ship but did not steer it forward. Belief remains high, but improvement must come soon before luck runs out. The returning players, Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard, and Martin Ødegaard, helped Mikel’s hope survive the moment and create the late drama.
As featured on GoonerNews.com