Arsenal host what is a must-win game for them as they find themselves in 14th place, 9 games into their Premier League campaign. They go into this game with only one premier goal in their last 5 league games, which came from the penalty spot, outlining Arsenal’s attacking problems this season as they haven’t score a league goal from open play since the 4th of October against Sheffield United. Wolves, on the other hand, will look to capitalise on Arsenal’s poor form and get their first win at the Emirates since achieving promotion. Nuno’s side look to switch to a back-four system which could prove costly with Conor Coady potentially getting caught out by Arsenal’s wicked pace with Players such as Aubameyang and Saka. Both sides need a win to keep themselves in the conversation for Europe, Arsenal more so. No matter the result, this won’t be boring.
Lineups
Arsenal
Wolves
First Half
1′- Wolves have won the first corner of the game in no time at all after Granit Xhaka cleared a cross from Pedro Neto. It looks like Wolves will be plaing in a back four as
3′- Arsenal nearly get a goal from a quick counter-attack as Saka gets in behind Nelson Semedo and tries to pull the ball back to Aubameyang but Coady is in the way.
5′- A horrific coming together from Arsenal’s first corner between David Luiz and Raul Jimenez. both players look hurt with replacements warming up for both sides.
Embed from Getty Images7′- David Luiz is up and recieving treatment with a bloody head but Raul Jimenez is still down and has been put into the recovery position. It isn;t looking good for the Mexican striker. Hopefully this isn’t as bad as it looks because this moment makes you think of serious injuries such as Ryan Mason’s 4 years ago.
10′- The teenage summer signing, Fabio Silva is set to come on for Raul Jimenez while David Luiz looks set to carry on as he is having his head dressed and bandaged up.
12′- Play is still yet to resume with Jimenez still being treated on the pitch. Nuno Espirito Santo sits on the away bench in shock. It seems like the injury is as first feared and may be more serious than a simple injury setback. Hopefully we hear more positive news surrounding Jimenez in the coming days however it certainly looks bad at the moment. This is simply more important than Football.
16′- The game feels quite odd carrying on as it has been stopped for over 10 minutes. There was a high tempo to begin with but it feels like both side are taking things slow at the moment.
21′- The gloves are off for Fabio Silva, literally, as he looks to make his mark on the Wolves first team this season after his pricey summer move.
23′- Podence breaks away on the right wing for Wolves but his cross is headed out by Bellerin before Willock makes contact with Neto on the edge of the box with Wolves trying to claim a penalty but Michael Oliver was having none of it.
27′- Goal – Pedro Neto
Embed from Getty ImagesAdama Traore gets a one v one chance against Tierney before purring in a menacing cross to Dendocker who heads against the bar but it falls kindly to Neto who follows in with Gabriel failing to clear it on the line.
29′- Tierney gets in behind and it looks like Aubameyang is set to score from his cross but Conor Coady gets the faintest of touches to prevent an equaliser before Bellerin wins his side a corner from a blocked cross.
30′- Goal – Gabriel
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal find themselves level from the subsequent corner as Willian has a one-two with Bellerin before out-swinging the ball to Gabriel at the backpost with Patricio not able to keep it out.
34′- Wolves nearly get back in front from a corner as Neto curls the ball to Dendoncker at the back post but he fails to get enough power to beat Leno as the German keeper casually catches the ball.
37′- Saka gets in behind from a long ball and manages to win a corner after crossig the ball into Boly. Considering what happened the last time Arsenal had a corner, all eyes will be on this one.
39′- Neto seemingly puts the perfoct cross into the Arsenal box but it goes past two Wolves players as neither Podence or Semedo are able of getting the touch that would restore the lead for the side from the midlands.
42′- Goal – Paniel Podence
Embed from Getty ImagesNeto dribbles through the arsenal midfield before striking the ball towards Bernd Leno who spills the ball to Podence who dinks the ball over the sliding Gabriel before calmly putting the ball into the bottom corner and brings Wolves back into the lead. Arsenal’s defence looked like it was standing still there.
45′- 10 minutes of injury time to come after the early incident involving David Luiz and Raul Jimenez.
45+3′- Arsenal seem locked in their own half with Wolves controlling the game now they have their lead back.
45+4′- Arsenal defence is completely open for Wolves as Neto gives the ball to Fabio Silva who unselfishly passes to Adama Traore, who gets enough power behind the ball but strikes the side-netting. Arsenal are living dangerously.
45+7′- Ceballos is down with a head injury and considering what happened at the start of the game, Michael Oliver is quick to stop play for Ceballos to recieve treatment. On replay it seems like its Podence’s trailing arm with stikes Ceballos as they both compete for the ball in the air.
HT Arsenal 1-2 Wolves
Arsenal find themselves behind at half time while Wolves are playing with Raul Jimenez in mind after the horrific injury he experienced after clashing heads with Luiz. Nuno’s side is definitely doing Jimenez proud as they have looked threatening every time they’ve been in Arsenal’s third of the pitch. Arsenal need to get Aubameyang into the game if they want any chance of winning this game as he has had barely any touches of the ball so far.
Arsenal look set to replace David Luiz after with Rob Holding before the second half gets under way. It looks like David Luiz’s knock is enough to prevent him from completing the 90 minutes.
Second Half
47′- Willock gets on the front foot and draws a foul from Willy Boly who recieves the first yellow card of the game. Willian and Saka are over the free kick for Arsenal. Nothing comes of it as Wolves easily clear.
50′- Arsenal had to equalise there as Ceballos plays the ball through to Bellerin who clips th ball to Saka on the Penalty spot, but he fails getthe contact he wanted and the chance goes. He’ll know he should’ve scored there.
52′- It’s another stoppage for a head injury and this time it’s Gabriel as Moutinho takes a shot outside the box but Gabriel’s face gets in the way. It looks like he’ll be able to carry on.
54′- Adama Traore goes down in the box as he takes on Gabriel but Michael Oliver sees things differently and books the Spaniard for simulation. The replay shows Traore was off balance already and the decision was very harsh from the referee.
56′- Wolves get their third yellow of the game as Saka beats Fabio Silva to the ball, just outside the box. This is a great position to test Patricio as Aubameyang and Willian stand over the ball.
57′- Willian takes the free kick and sums up his Arsenal career so far as Patricio doesn’t move a muscle while the ball whistles over the bar.
60′- Podence wins the ball of Bellerin and tries to trick his way past the Arsenal defenders as it looks like he has the better of Rob Holding but Bellerin is back in time to block Podence’s shot and clear it out for a throw in.
62′- Arsenal are struggling to get the ball into Wolves’ half as the men from Molineaux are looking comfortable going into the final 30 minutes. Arteta needs to make a substitution to give his team something different as the players on the pitch don’t seem to be capable of getting back into the game.
69′- Bellerin recieves Arsenal’s first booking of the game as he pulls down Pedro Neto on the half way line as the pacy winger was ready to get past the Arsenal defence.
73′- Aubameyang wins the ball off Patricio but the ball trickles away from goal and Wolves get back into position to protect their lead. That was the moment Arsenal have been waiting for but no luck falls to the Gunners.
85′- Wolves get their first attack in a while as Traore has Holding and Gabriel running back in fear before Neto crosses the ball to the backpost but Dendoncker is unable of keeping the ball in play.
86′- Rob Holding sees himself become the second Arsenal player to be put into Michael Oliver’s book after taking down Traore before a counter attack.
89′- Coady is booked for Wolves after colliding with Lacazette as the Frenchman wins the ball. This is a good chance for a delivery with not long left to save the game for Arsenal.
90′- Four minutes of injury time to play. Arsenal look like they’ll be finishing with their third consecutive home league defeat.
90+2′- Tierney gets put in the book after cynically taking Neto down as the Portuguese winger was almost through for Wolves.
FT Arsenal 1-2 Wolves
Wolves get their first away win against Arsenal since the 70s while Arteta is left wondering how his plan is crumbling before his eyes, as Arsenal now have lost half of their league games this season and will be 6 points behind the top 4 if Leicester win tomorrow night against Fulham. Nuno’s side have done Jimenez proud as they’ve managed to defeat Arsenal with relative comfort with the loss of their star striker proving not to be a problem for them. Arsenal need to recuperate quickly as next week they face their fierce rivals Tottenham in the first North London Derby of the season.
