Relief At The Emirates: Arsenal Win Ugly, Survive Wolves Scare

Arsenal dodged a serious stumble on Saturday, leaning on two Wolves own goals — including a dramatic stoppage-time gift — to grind out a 2-1 win over the Premier League’s bottom club and move five points clear of Manchester City.

It was far from convincing. Mikel Arteta admitted his side struggled badly for fluency and should have put the game to bed much earlier. Still, he insisted the chaotic nature of the win could yet prove valuable.

“That gives you the belief that regardless of how the game goes, you can always find a solution to win it," Arteta told TNT Sports.

“But now we’re going to have a clean week. We need to start to train certain aspects slowly, because if you don’t train them, you start to deteriorate a little bit."

The first half was alarmingly blunt from Arsenal. They failed to register a single shot on target, with Gabriel Martinelli squandering several promising openings as frustration rippled around the Emirates.

Arteta responded just before the hour mark, making a triple change. Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino replaced Martinelli, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi, and the pressure began to mount.

 Wolves clung on — until the 70th minute, when relentless pressure finally cracked them.

Johnstone got a flick to Bukayo Saka’s corner but could only divert it onto the post, then back off his own arm and into the net for a cruel own goal that brought visible relief to the home crowd.

Gabriel Jesus then made his first home appearance in 11 months, replacing Viktor Gyokores. Yet the drama was far from over.

Incredibly, Wolves equalised in the 90th minute when Mateus Mane’s low cross was headed home by Tolu Arokodare, threatening a damaging draw.

Moments later, Arsenal were rescued again. Saka delivered another dangerous cross, Jesus attacked it, and Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera turned the ball into his own net.

Winless Wolves have now lost nine league games in a row, collecting just two points from 16 matches and staring down the worst season in Premier League history.

(with AFP inputs)