Wolves 2 - 2 Arsenal - FletchAnswers

Arsenal squandered a two-goal result in blow the title race large open as Wolves snatched a 2-2 attract stoppage-time at Molineux.

Tom Edozie, 19, got here off the bench to attain the equaliser on his Premier League debut after a mix-up between Gabriel and David Raya amid extraordinary scenes as Mikel Arteta watched on in disbelief at how the Gunners misplaced management towards the underside membership.

Bukayo Saka’s early aim had appeared set to make it a simple night for the Premier League leaders with Arsenal completely dominant within the first half. When Piero Hincapie scored his first aim for the membership early within the second that ought to have been that.

However Hugo Bueno’s gorgeous curled strike into the highest nook altered the temper and Arsenal sat again, making an attempt to carry on to their benefit. It was undone by Edozie’s crisp strike that Riccardo Calafiori couldn’t hold out to spark bedlam inside Molineux.

Arsenal prolong their lead on the prime to 5 factors however Manchester Metropolis now have a recreation in hand and with Arteta’s group nonetheless to journey to the Etihad Stadium this season, this might but be seen as a significant turning level within the Premier League title race.

Merson slams ‘sluggish and lazy’ Arsenal

Sky Sports activities’ Paul Merson:

“If Man Metropolis win all their video games now on, they win the league. It is disappointing.

“You may’t play in second gear. When Wolves went to 2-2, there was an urgency. They did not have that earlier than. You may’t play like that. Each recreation is a cup ultimate to the tip.

“You have to play at a excessive tempo. If Arsenal play at a excessive tempo, Wolves cannot stay with them. However to play the way in which they performed, and it is sluggish and lazy, and they’re giving the ball away, then Wolves are all the time going to be within the recreation.

“That would come again to chunk them. That’s actually, actually disappointing tonight.

“It is going come on full blast now, being bottle jobs, melting. It is full on now drawing away at Brentford after which being two targets up towards the worst group within the league.”

Arteta: We deserve the hits

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to Sky Sports activities:

“It is tough to just accept it within the second half how we did not carry out at any stage in any side of the sport, on the requirements which might be required to win a recreation within the Premier League and we paid the value.

“Too many issues that went improper was one after the opposite. It is best to not decide it. We’re all too emotional about it and it isn’t the second to do it. It is a second when you do not carry out, and you might be at this stage, and expectations are the place they’re. You need to take the hit, as a result of as effectively, we deserve it.”

Saka: We have misplaced momentum

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka talking to Sky Sports activities:

“It is very flat. I am very disenchanted with the end result and particularly how we performed within the second half, it is from the extent that we have set this season.

“It is time for us to mirror on the few performances and simply repair the problems instantly so we are able to get again to successful video games and happening a run and construct momentum as a result of we have misplaced {that a} bit proper now.”

Unlikely comeback in stats

This was the primary time in Premier League historical past {that a} facet beginning the day backside of the desk averted defeat to the facet beginning the day prime regardless of trailing by two or extra targets.

Arsenal did not win a Premier League away recreation by which that they had a two-goal lead for the primary time since April 2023 at West Ham, ending an 18-game successful run on the highway when two targets forward within the league.

Wolves averted defeat in a Premier League dwelling recreation by which they trailed by two or extra targets for the primary time since beating Manchester Metropolis 3-2 in December 2019, ending a 31-game dropping run on dwelling soil from two down.

Smith: Man Metropolis will fancy it now

Sky Sports activities’ Alan Smith:

“We have spoken so usually about them being the perfect group, the perfect squad within the league. However that counts for nothing if you have not bought that composure and skill to play and get outcomes below stress. That phrase bottle will probably be used fairly a bit within the subsequent few days.

“Man Metropolis will probably be considering they will really feel our breath on the shoulder and with their expertise, with Guardiola’s expertise, they’re going to be actually fancying it now.

“Clearly, it is a large recreation towards Newcastle for them on the weekend, however they will virtually really feel the nerves of the Arsenal group watching that tonight.”

Who’s Tom Edozie?

The Wolves teenager whose swing of his proper foot altered the complexion of the title race will not be even well-known to his personal supporters. Even his supervisor is discovering out about him. “We’re nonetheless studying about him as effectively,” stated Edwards of Edozie.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder signed knowledgeable contract in 2024 and has appeared as an unused substitute previous to this recreation however didn’t even have his personal Wikipedia web page on the level at which his effort deflected its means into Arsenal’s web.

“He has impressed us with some very nice moments. He’s technically a gifted participant, however we’re nonetheless studying about him ourselves. We simply had a sense,” added Edwards.

“JJ [Bellegarde], I assumed, had been sensible within the recreation. Clearly, he is been out some time. Typically you’ve got a sense after which that intestine has proved proper. As he was approaching, I simply put my arm spherical him and stated, this could possibly be your second, go and take it.

“The primary couple of touches, I feel it was tough. Declan Rice respiration down his neck. It was a bit new for him, however then I assumed he took his aim brilliantly. It was a beautiful second for him.”