Premier League
How Wolves Fought Back To Stun The Title Challengers Arsenal
When Arsenal travelled to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium, the stage seemed set for a predictable evening.
Arsenal, even with their trademark late-season wobble under Mikel Arteta, were clear favourites. Wolves were rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, winless in six games and drifting hopelessly towards relegation.
On paper, it looked like a ‘David vs. Goliath’ fixture with an inevitable outcome.
Football, however, rarely follows the script.
Arsenal’s Recurring Late-Season Wobble
Under Arteta, Arsenal have often enjoyed strong stretches of form before suffering an untimely dip as the season reaches its climax.
That familiar slide resurfaced again on this night in Wolverhampton. The Gunners were without several key players including Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Mikel Merino, and Max Dowman.
Their absences disrupted rhythm and reduced creativity in central areas, leaving the team feeling stretched.
The reverse fixture in December, which Arsenal won only due to two Wolves’ own goals, remained a lingering reminder that Wolves were capable of causing problems even when there appeared to be a vast gulf between the two sides.
Dominant History Overshadowing the Present
Arsenal entered the match with a commanding record, having beaten Wolves nine times in a row and not dropping a point against them since 2022.
Wolves’ performances at home this season have been dismal, with only one win in 13 matches.
Meanwhile, Arsenal had lost just twice away from home and had been unbeaten on the road since December’s trip to face Aston Villa.
Despite those daunting numbers, Wolves offered a glimmer of future potential as English midfielder Mateus Mane became the youngest player in the club’s history to start ten Premier League matches.
Saka Opens the Scoring
The match began exactly as Arsenal would have hoped. In the fifth minute, Declan Rice delivered a beautifully-shaped cross that found Bukayo Saka, who stooped low to head in Arsenal’s fastest goal of the season.
It was a much-needed moment for Saka, who ended a career-long 15-game goal drought.
Arsenal controlled the early stages with an authority that suggested a comfortable evening ahead. They held the ball with ease, moved through the thirds unchallenged, and produced five attempts while Wolves failed to register a single shot in the opening half hour.
Only Yerson Mosquera’s determined tackling gave Wolves any sense of resistance as he threw himself into challenges and kept his team afloat.
Controlled First Half That Hid Warning Signs
Despite the dominance, Arsenal’s control lacked sharpness. Their defenders advanced into attacking positions freely, with Piero Hincapié completing an impressive number of forward passes.
But the final product was not quite as ruthless as their possession suggested, and Wolves although subdued managed to stay in the game without allowing it to spiral into a rout.
Rob Edwards’ side went into the interval with nothing to cling to other than two late off-target efforts, but crucially, they had not allowed Arsenal’s lead to grow.
Hincapié Doubles the Advantage
Arsenal tightened their grip on the match early in the second half when Hincapié timed his run perfectly to latch onto Gabriel’s pass before finishing calmly for his first goal of the season.
Arsenal’s habit of starting second halves strongly continued, with that strike marking their 13th goal inside the first 15 minutes after the break a league-high figure.
At this point, the game appeared settled. But as quickly as Arsenal strengthened their position, they began to lose their edge.
Wolves Find Life Through Hugo Bueno
Within five minutes of going two down, Wolves found a spark of belief. Hugo Bueno unleashed a brilliant curling effort from outside the box, scoring his first-ever Premier League goal and giving David Raya no chance.
The assist came from Santiago Bueno, making it a “Good-to-Good” combination that pulled Wolves back into the contest.
It continued a frustrating trend for Arsenal, who had already conceded first-time Premier League goals to Tolu Arokodare and Brian Brobbey earlier in the season.
Gyökeres Struggles as Momentum Shifts
Arsenal’s attacking fluidity suffered as Viktor Gyökeres endured a difficult night. His lack of involvement just one touch in the opposition box and a low pass accuracy forced Arteta to withdraw him shortly after the hour mark.
In contrast, Wolves seemed to grow with every passing minute, buoyed by the energy of their home crowd.
Edozie’s Late Heroics Ignite Molineux
The real turning point arrived in the dying minutes of stoppage time. Tom Edozie, who entered the pitch in the 83rd minute, delivered an unforgettable Premier League debut cameo.
A mix-up between Raya and Gabriel gifted Wolves an opening, and Edozie struck a fierce shot that deflected off Riccardo Calafiori who had barely been on the pitch for a minute.
The equaliser stunned the travelling Arsenal fans and sent Molineux into a frenzy. In just 16 minutes, Edozie managed more meaningful actions than Gyökeres had produced in over an hour, highlighting both Wolves’ resilience and Arsenal’s fading sharpness.
The Numbers Behind Arsenal’s Collapse
The post-match statistics reveal a story that the scoreline only partially tells. Wolves won more tackles and attempted more challenges than Arsenal, showing a determination and competitive edge that the visitors simply did not match.
Mateus Mane and Hugo Bueno were especially influential, winning possession repeatedly and disrupting Arsenal’s passing lanes.
Meanwhile, the Gunners lost the ball an astonishing 146 times. Their inability to maintain composure under pressure ultimately allowed Wolves to claw their way back into the match.
A Costly Blow in the Title Race
This result carries significant implications for the Premier League title race. Arsenal remain ahead of Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola’s side now has a game in hand and is entering the period of the season where they traditionally surge.
The upcoming North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur now become non-negotiable.
Arsenal must win to maintain momentum and avoid allowing this slip-up to become a turning point in their campaign.
