Wolves 2 Arsenal 2
What on Earth happened here? You’d think this was the perfect game to get back to winning ways for Arsenal in the league after drawing to Brentford last week but I’m not sure many would have predicted them to drop points against the worst team in the league. It started perfectly for Arsenal as Bukayo Saka headed home from Declan Rice’s cross to put Arsenal 1-0 up in the 5th minute, Arsenal were relatively comfortable throughout the first half but did show signs of frailty at times looking uncomfortable on the ball throughout the first half. Probably against the run of play Hincapie latched on to Gabriel’s through ball to put Arsenal 2-0 up in the 56th minute and in everyone’s eyes seal the 3 points against Wolves. However out of nowhere just five minutes later Hugo Bueno scores a brilliant goal curling it past David Raya from outside the box to give Wolves hope going into the last thirty minutes. Arsenal looked so uncomfortable for the last thirty minutes but it took a complete mix-up from Raya and Gabriel to gift Tom Edozie a goal on his debut to salvage an unlikely point for Wolves and a dagger to Arsenal who yet again drop points from a winning position.
How did Arsenal let yet another game slip past? This was a chance to go 7 points clear at the top of the league and yet again Arsenal don’t capitalise when they need to, if City beat Newcastle on Saturday the gap closes to 2 points with Arsenal playing in the North London Derby against Spurs who will undoubtedly have their tails up with a new manager playing at home for the first time. Once again I look at Arsenal’s attack and wonder who’s going to step up in these matches to get them over the line? Lets be honest, opposition teams aren’t scared of a frontline consisting of Martinelli-Gyokeres-Madueke, why should they be when these players have been poor all season and hiding between the fact that Arsenal are 1st in the league, the defence was going to crack at some point having carried Arsenal so far this season but I’m looking at guys like Gyokeres, Madueke, Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus etc to carry that baton for Arsenal and get them over the line but they have failed time and time again over the last few weeks.
Fair play to Wolves. Wolves have nothing but pride to play for for the rest of the season sitting in 20th place and 17 points from safety but they yet again took the game to Arsenal in that second half, at the Emirates in December Wolves were unlucky not to get anything from the game succumbing to two own goals with the winner coming in the 94th minute but Wolves got their revenge tonight equalising in the same minute to break Arsenal hearts, yet again I was so impressed with Mateus Mane who continues to play so well in this Wolves side playing such an important role in the equaliser taking the ball out of the sky and dancing around three Arsenal players before crossing the ball that eventually leads to the mix-up between Raya and Gabriel for the goal, no doubt there will be a plethora of clubs vying for his signature in the summer with how well he’s played in the last few months.
Has Saka found his new position? All I heard about over the weekend was how well Saka played in the number 10 against Wigan on Sunday and that Arteta should try him there against Wolves on Wednesday, well I think it’s safe to say that he might just have found his new position in this Arsenal team. He was by far Arsenal’s best player in that first half and had that spark that know one else in the Arsenal team really had all night, he did go off with an injury in the 73rd minute and Arteta will be hoping that it isn’t serious with Saka just coming back from an injury about a week ago. With Odegaard and Eze lacking form in that position I’m looking forward to seeing what Saka can do in the 10 over the next few when Arsenal really need their talisman to step up.
The title race is well and truly on. Arsenal simply had to win this game to try and maintain some sort of gap between them and City but the title is now in Cities hands with Arsenal having to come to the Etihad in April, the next few games are absolutely massive for Arsenal playing Spurs(A), Chelsea(H) and Brighton(A) with City playing Newcastle(H), Leeds(A) and Forest(H). Cities fixtures look far better on paper to me anyway and they are on good form following their additions in January of Semenyo and Guehi who have both hit the ground running for Pep Guardiola’s side. That Spurs game on Sunday is make or break for Arsenal as far as I’m concerned as if they drop any more points they might just collapse before the title race really starts to heat up in March and April. Get the popcorn out on Sunday as it’s going to be box-office either way with loads of games at the top and bottom of the table.