Arsenal Keeps Title Hopes Alive With Narrow Victory Against Wolverhampton Wanderers

Arsenal claimed their eighth successive Premier League victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Molineux.

Half of the Missed Opportunities

The first half of the match saw Wolves starting strong, with Nélson Semedo producing a moment of brilliance just ten minutes into the game.

Semedo whipped in an exquisite cross that found Pablo Sarabia, whose volley went dangerously off-target. Not long after, Arsenal began to find their footing as Kai Havertz became the focus of their attacking efforts.

He first flicked a header that narrowly missed the goal, followed by another attempt where his close-range header was spectacularly saved by Wolves’ goalkeeper, José Sá, using his outstretched leg. Both chances came from exceptional deliveries by Leandro Trossard, showing Arsenal’s attacking potential.

However, the Gunners faced a significant setback just before the halftime whistle when Myles Lewis-Skelly was shown a red card for a foul on Matt Doherty. The dismissal could have derailed the confidence of many teams, but Arsenal entered the break with determination to overcome this adversity.

Turning Point

The second half started bright for Arsenal, as Declan Rice tested Sá with a powerful shot that the keeper managed to palm away. It wasn’t until the hour mark that Wolves recorded their first shot on target, with Hwang Hee-chan’s effort from range putting pressure on Arsenal’s defense.

However, as the half progressed, the Wolves began to assert their dominance, leveraging their one-man advantage. Wolves’ forwards, including Matheus Cunha, created multiple scoring opportunities that tested Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya.

A deflected effort from Cunha required a reflex save, as did a subsequent attempt from a corner that drifted just wide.

Turning Point

Just when it seemed Wolves were about to capitalize on their extra man, the tide turned with a pivotal moment in the 70th minute. João Gomes was issued a second yellow card for a reckless challenge, leaving both teams with ten men and neutralizing Wolves’ earlier advantage.

This setback for the hosts opened the door for Arsenal, who seized the opportunity just four minutes later.

Substitute Riccardo Calafiori emerged as the hero of the day, striking a stunning half-volley that snuck into the bottom corner of the goal, giving Arsenal a 1-0 lead. The visitors displayed their fighting spirit, holding strong against Wolves’ attempts to equalize in the closing stages of the match.

David Raya continued to shine, making crucial saves from Rayan Aït-Nouri and Cunha that preserved Arsenal’s clean sheet.

As the final whistle blew, Arsenal celebrated a vital three points that kept them in the hunt for the Premier League title while extending the Wolves’ winless streak to five league matches.