Wolves on cloud nine
Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 v Arsenal FC 1
The half time buzz reverberating around the Billy Quiet said it all. That and the sight of a half empty Arsenal section as their fans busied themselves booking an early train home. For Wolves, playing in front of the largest home attendance of the season, this was a repeat of their performances against Manchester United, denying the opposition an opening before hitting them on the break.
A portent of the evening ahead came in minute 25 when Joao Moutinho finished off a fine counter attack his curling shot from the edge of the box just going wide. Three minutes later another good break saw Castro Otto felled by a clumsy Nacho Monreal challenge. From the ensuing free kick Ruben Neves fired the ball home with the precision of an Exocet. Ten minutes later, following a short corner, Castro Otto’s in-swinging cross found Matt Doherty whose glancing header evaded Bernd Leno to settle in the net. Then with two minutes of time added on, Diogo Jota pounced on an errant Arsenal pass to score, Leno at fault in failing to deal with his strike.
What a contrast to Saturday when it was all Wolves could do to create a chance in 90 minutes of play. Yet here, in under half that time, they had notched three against a side performing in the Champions League. But whether Arsenal are truly of that quality is another matter for though they are neat in possession their players are one dimensional and many lack heart. Nothing illustrated this more than minute 72 when Diogo Jota carried the ball from just inside the Arsenal half to the edge of the D. Here he lost it only to reclaim it through far greater determination. Arsene Wenger was constantly chided for failing to find a spine and it would appear that under Unai Emery not much has changed.
The Gunners spent much of the second half as they had the first – huffing and puffing eventually gaining a consolation goal from a corner in minute 79. But as for breaking through the home side’s defence in open play they failed. Wolves were superior in every department and the victory moves them up to seventh in the League. European football beckons. I repeat – European football beckons.
Wolves: Patricio 6, Bennett 7, Coady 6, Boly 6, Doherty 7 Sub Traore, Castro Otto 8, Neves 7, Moutinho 8 Sub Gibbs White, Dendoncker 6, Jota 8 Sub Cavaleiro, Jimenez 6
Arsenal FC: Leno 5, Maitland Niles 6, Papastathopolous 6, Koscielny 5, Monreal 5, Torreira 5 Sub Guendouzi, Xhaka 6, Mkhitarian 5 Sub Kolasinac, Ozil 6, Iwobi 6 Sub Nketiah, Lacazette 6
Attendance: 31,436
Referee: Stuart Attwell 9
©Mark Brennand