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Arsenal secured a big three points away from home in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon as they beat Wolves 1-0 at Molineux.
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With Liverpool taking on an Ipswich Town side that were battered 6-0 at home last weekend, it seemed as if Arsenal’s primary task on Saturday was going to be matching the league leaders’ result.
The Gunners, however, didn’t have it their own way at Molineux, with Wolves keen to overturn their recent slump in form. The hosts competed fiercely in the opening exchanges and created the first big opening, but Pablo Sarabia blazed his volley from an excellent Nelson Semedo cross over.
Arsenal were most dangerous when Wolves had the ball, with Vitor Pereira’s side intent on turning possession over in the build-up phase. Leandro Trossard twice teed up Kai Havertz with pinpoint deliveries, but the German somehow failed to find the back of the net with both headed efforts.
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The first half was bereft of quality, and the contest turned just before the break when Michael Oliver sent off Myles Lewis-Skelly for what was deemed a cynical and dangerous challenge on Matt Doherty.
Arsenal weren’t deterred despite their man disadvantage and had their brightest spell of the contest at the start of the second half. Gabriel, Declan Rice and Havertz (again) came close to breaking the deadlock before Matheus Cunha squandered an opportunity at the other end.
Joao Gomes’ ill-advised challenge on Jurrien Timber, having been booked in the first half, led to his dismissal, and Arsenal didn’t waste any time in taking advantage as substitute Riccardo Calafiori bagged the winning goal with a fine finish inside the area.
The visitors then didn’t have any issues in seeing the game out, although Rayan Ait-Nouri could’ve done better when he found himself in behind Arsenal’s defence but shot straight at David Raya.
Wolves player ratings (3-4-2-1)
Matheus Cunha once again cut a frustrated figure / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
| Position / Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Jose Sa | 6.5/10 |
| CB: Matt Doherty | 7.3/10 |
| CB: Emmanuel Agbadou | 8.4/10 |
| CB: Santiago Bueno | 6.7/10 |
| RWB: Nelson Semedo (c) | 6.6/10 |
| CM: Andre | 7.2/10 |
| CM: Joao Gomes | 4.9/10 |
| LWB: Rayan Ait-Nouri | 6.7/10 |
| AM: Pablo Sarabia | 6.2/10 |
| AM: Matheus Cunha | 6.8/10 |
| ST: Jorgen Strand Larsen | 5.6/10 |
| SUB: Hwang Hee-chan (32′ for Larsen) | 6.8/10 |
| SUB: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (75′ for Sarabia) | 6.1/10 |
| SUB: Rodrigo Gomes (87′ for Ait-Nouri) | N/A |
| SUB: Goncalo Guedes (87′ for Doherty) | N/A |
| SUB: Tommy Doyle (87′ for Andre) | N/A |
Subs not used: Sam Johnstone (GK), Craig Dawson, Pedro Lima, Toti Gomes.
Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)
Riccardo Calafiori struck the decisive blow off the bench / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
| Position / Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: David Raya | 8.3/10 |
| RB: Jurrien Timber | 7.6/10 |
| CB: William Saliba | 7.6/10 |
| CB: Gabriel (c) | 7.5/10 |
| LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly | 6.0/10 |
| DM: Thomas Partey | 7.6/10 |
| CM: Ethan Nwaneri | 6.1/10 |
| CM: Declan Rice | 7.4/10 |
| RW: Gabriel Martinelli | 6.4/10 |
| CF: Kai Havertz | 6.7/10 |
| LW: Leandro Trossard | 6.9/10 |
| SUB: Riccardo Calafiori (46′ for Nwaneri) | 7.3/10 |
| SUB: Kieran Tierney (87′ for Martinelli) | N/A |
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Jack Porter (GK), Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Raheem Sterling.
