Narrow win for Arsenal against Wolves

Prior to the match against Wolves, I was expecting the same line up as the one that played Brentford. I was looking forward to seeing Emile Smith-Rowe start another game. A player that I initially underrated, but has proved me wrong and is rapidly becoming one of my favourite players. I was disappointed that he wasn’t in the starting line up and when I looked at the subs bench and his name was not there either, I had a feeling that it was because of injury or sickness. Arteta confirmed his absence was due to illness

The match yesterday was frustrating and exciting in equal measure. Both teams have been playing well and Wolves had won 4 of their last 5 matches, with the only defeat coming at the hands of Arsenal in the reverse fixture.

The first half started well for the team. IN the 6^th minute Wolves through they had opened the scoring, but the goal was rightly rules out for offside. A few minutes later the team went behind through an error from Gabriel. Under pressure from Raul Jiminez, he passed the ball back to Ramsdale. His pass was short and intercepted by Hwang who slotted the ball home from a tight angle.

A few minutes later, Wolves had a good chance to double their lead, but hit his shot wide. This was Wolves last good opportunity in the first half. Arsenal took control of the game and improved their passing and movement and created several good chances, but were not able to score from anyone of them.

In the second half the team started where it had left off in the first half. They played well and created chances, but as in the first half the chances were not converted. Wolves defence wall that had done so well in the first half was holding firm in the second.

With time running out Mikel Arteta decided to make two changes. Nicholas Pepe replaced Gabriel Martinelli in the 71^st minute and Eddie Nketiah replaced Cedric Soares in the 77^th minute.

Nicholas Pepe equalised in the 82^nd minute. The other substitute Nketiah passed to Pepe in the penalty area, Pepe turned and slotted the ball past Wolves goalkeeper Sa. The team was not satisfied with the equaliser and chased after a winning goal. With only two minutes to go, a beautiful passage of short passes between Odegaard, Pepe and Lacazette created a chance for Lacazette. The angle was tight. The striker hit his shot against Saiss and the ball seemed to be going across the goal, but was deflected into the net by Wolves goalkeeper Sa’s gloves.

Arsenal now sit 1 point behind Manchester United with two games in hand. One of those games is against Chelsea.

The top 4 race is proving to be more exciting than the title race, with 5 teams capable of securing the final champions league spot.