Arsenal put their Champions League disappointment behind them, defeating Wolves at Molineux and returning to the top of the Premier League.
It was a welcome win for Mikel Arteta's side, who missed out on a chance to leapfrog Josep Guardiola's side with a home loss to Aston Villa six days ago and were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Ta.
Leandro Trossard's shot in the final seconds of the opening game may not have been the most eye-catching shot of the Belgian's career, but it was perfectly timed.
Despite a bright start, Arsenal appeared to be faltering towards the end of the first half, falling just short of a side hit by Gary O'Neill's injury.
The visiting team took the initiative in the second half, but they were unable to convert any clear chances and fell behind.
Captain Martin Odegaard added his second goal deep in added time near the end of the game from an angle after his first cross was blocked.
The result means Arsenal have played more games, although they are now one point behind City on goal difference.
They have a chance to put huge pressure on the defending champions when they face Chelsea, who lost in the FA Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.
Tired Wolves' winless streak continues
Wolves' efforts were positively received by fans who continued to support the team until the end, but as the season drew to a close, they lost an injury-time lead to Championship Coventry in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Molineux last month. How much would I regret reversing the situation?
This weekend's Wembley semi-final was supposed to end what has been a difficult season for O'Neill's side. The team had a great first two-thirds of the season, but now a lack of energy and fitness seems to be taking its toll.
Joao Gomes forced David Raya to hit the post with a diagonal shot in the first half, and in the second half substitute Mario Lemina tested the Arsenal keeper with a shot.
But those were sporadic moments of attacking invention, and it was Wolves' best performances from their defenders, with captain Max Kilman and Toti in particular outstanding in the heart of the home side's rearguard. showed.
Tommy Doyle was a hard worker at Wolves while on loan.
However, they are currently without a win in six games in all competitions, the longest streak since the end of the 2021-22 season.
Chairman Geoff See has repeatedly said the club did not introduce reinforcements during the January period because it was not prepared to risk breaking the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. Ta. However, the feeling will remain that this decision has cost Wolves and O'Neill a realistic chance of a top-half finish.
Trossard hits the decisive blow
Trossard has been in and out of Arsenal since joining from Brighton in January 2023 in a £21m deal.
The Belgian has yet to make more substitute appearances than starts in the Gunners' Premier League and is an obvious candidate to be substituted in times of poor form.
However, he still scores important goals. Since the beginning of last month, he has scored the winning goal in the Champions League against Porto, equalized in the quarter-final home game against Bayern Munich, and now his latest effort takes him to 14 games for the season. All competitions. Only Bukayo Saka has scored more goals for the Gunners.
It was a poor attempt to stretch and lean into the pass from Gabriel Jesus. However, the shot flew into the top corner of the goal and out of the reach of goalkeeper Jose Sa. It changed the complexion of a night that had previously been starting to get a bit tense for the visitors, who had previously allowed Wolves to get back into the game they had initially dominated.
At the end of a tough week, it was no surprise that Arsenal were not at their free-flowing best.
Still, they had a chance. Kai Havertz made a neat turn inside the area on both sides. However, each time the German player fired a shot straight at Jose Sa.
Declan Rice had four chances, including a shot in the first half that went just wide, and a shot in stoppage time that forced Sa to make a decent save. However, despite his obvious qualities, the English midfielder has yet to improve his goal numbers, which he is definitely capable of.
Odegaard finally delivered the final blow to Wolves in stoppage time with a close-range shot.
player of match
OdegaardMartin Odegaard
wolverhampton wanderers
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squad number8player namejoan gomez
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squad number20player namedoyle
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squad number6player nameTraore
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squad number2player namedoherty
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squad number3player nameAit Nouri
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squad numberFiveplayer nameRemina
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squad numbertwenty oneplayer nameSarabia
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squad numbertwenty threeplayer nameKillman
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squad number1player nameJose Sa
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squad numbertwenty fourplayer nametoti gomez
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squad number11player nameHwang Hee-chan
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squad numberFourplayer namebueno
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squad number62player nameChilewa
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squad number17player namebueno
lineup
Wolf
formation 4-4-2
- 1sa
- 2dohertyReplacementAit Nouriin 75 minutesminutes
- Fourbueno
- twenty threeKillmanI made a reservation in 35 minutes.
- twenty fourgomezBooked in 32 minutes
- 8joan gomez
- 20doyle
- 6Traore
- 17bueno
- 11Hwang Hee-chanBooked for 51 minutesReplacementReminain 51 minutesminutes
- 62ChilewaReplacementSarabiain 75 minutesminutes
substitute
- 3Ait Nouri
- FiveRemina
- twenty oneSarabia
- twenty fivebentley
- 37holman
- 45barnet
- 57Daijinchu
- 61Okoduwa
- 63fraser
arsenal
formation 4-3-3
- twenty twoRaya
- FourWhite
- 2Saliba
- 6Gabriel
- 15Kiwior
- 8Odegaard
- 41riceI made a reservation in 35 minutes.
- 29Havertz
- 7Slope
- 9Gabriel JesusReplacementpartyin 80 minutesminutes
- 19TrossardI made a reservation for 29 minutes.Replacementmartinelliin 72 minutesminutes
substitute
- 1Ramsdale
- Fiveparty
- Tensmith row
- 11martinelli
- 14Nketia
- 20Jorginho
- twenty oneFabio Vieira
- twenty fournelson
- 35Zinchenko
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 31,621
live text
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Game over, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Arsenal 2.
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End of the second half, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Arsenal 2.
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Attempt saved. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) took a right-footed shot from the center of the box, but it was saved in the center of the goal.
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goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Arsenal 2. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) takes a left-footed shot into the center of the goal from a difficult angle on the right.
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Attempt saved. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) took a right-footed shot from a difficult angle on the left, but it was saved over the center of the goal. Assisted by Declan Rice.
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Attempt blocked. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)'s left-footed shot from outside the box was blocked. Ben White assisted the pass with a header.
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Attempt saved. Declan Rice (Arsenal) took a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it was saved in the center of the goal. Bukayo Saka's assistant.
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Corner, Arsenal. Toti Gomez concedes a goal.
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Attempt failed. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) took a right-footed shot from a difficult angle on the right wing, which was high and went just off the target. Assisted by Declan Rice.
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Foul by Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).
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Mario Lemina (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in defence.
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Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) wins a free kick in defence.
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Foul by Joao Gomez (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Foul on Kai Havertz (Arsenal).
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Santiago Bueno (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in defence.
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I'm late. They are ready to continue.
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Mario Lemina (Wolverhampton Wanderers) was late for the game due to injury.
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Foul on Martin Odegaard (Arsenal).
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Joao Gomez (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul on Martin Odegaard (Arsenal).