Arsenal FC are back on track. After the 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa and the Champions League exit at FC Bayern, the Gunners won 2-0 at Wolverhampton on Saturday evening and climbed to the top of the table, at least for the time being
When referee Paul Tierney blew his whistle for the last time on this atmospheric evening at Wolverhampton, the numbers spoke for themselves: 54% possession, 54% tackles won and, above all, 24-5 shots on goal. There could be no two opinions that Arsenal FC’s victory at Molineux Stadium was well deserved – and the Gunners could not have cared less that it was not a glorious one.
Mikel Arteta’s side dominated proceedings from the outset and had the first shot in the first minute through Havertz, before Rice’s effort from the edge of the box struck the far post (14) – but then the favorites had to breathe a sigh of relief when Wolverhampton’s Joao Gomes also failed to hit the aluminum (29).
Trossard gives Arsenal the lead
What none of the 31,621 spectators could have known at this point: The post goal was to remain the hosts’ only top-class scoring chance. Arsenal did not exactly cover themselves in glory in the rest of the game, but took the lead shortly before the break when Trossard put the ball under the crossbar with a powerful shot (45′).
After the restart, the favorites managed the lead and wore down Wolverhampton with long passing sequences. Shortly before the end, it was Ödegaard who dispelled the last doubts about an Arsenal victory: The Gunners captain scored with a well-judged shot from the baseline into the near corner – 0:2, the final score (90.+5).