Wolves 2-1 Arsenal
by Layth Yousif
at Molineux
 

ON A DRAMATIC, rain-lashed evening at Molineux, Wolves beat nine-man Arsenal 2-1 to record their first win since December 15 and their first double over the visitors since 1979.

The home side showed resilience in ending their eight-game winless run, with a goal either side of the interval, while the Gunners imploded in their bid to grab a sixth victory in eight games.

It would have propelled them into sixth place, but they instead fell to their first Premier League defeat of 2021.

A Ruben Neves penalty and a piledriver from Joao Moutinho – which Gunners boss Mikel Arteta branded a “worldie” afterwards – clinched the game for the side in old gold, after Nicolas Pepe’s seventh goal of the season had put the visitors ahead.

Neves’s penalty on the stroke of half-time followed the pivotal moment in the clash, which Arteta later admitted had changed the game.

With the Gunners 1-0 ahead and coasting to the break, David Luiz carelessly tangled with Willian Jose after Daniel Podence’s threaded through-ball, forcing referee Craig Pawson to issue a red card to the Brazilian. 

Four minutes after the break, Moutinho’s outstanding 35-yard strike – his first at Molineux – beat Bernd Leno from long range to seal a welcome triumph for the home side, who showed first-half fortitude as they refused to bow under Arsenal’s powerful early onslaught.

Worse was to come for Arsenal as they chased the game. Leno was sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside the area, capping an unhappy evening of woe – mostly self-inflicted – for Arteta’s side. 

Yet you could argue that Nuno Espirito Santo’s men had earned a spot of fortune after they refused to wilt following an action-packed opening ten minutes, in which Bukayo Saka could have netted a hattrick. 

Arsenal made one change from their goalless draw against Manchester United at the weekend as Saka returned in place of Gabriel Martinelli.

The precocious 19-year-old made an impressive start, powering through the Wolves backline to thud Rui Patricio’s far post from kick-off.

Moments later, playing his part in a frenetic start, the Hale End graduate turned to unleash a drive which Patricio saved low to his left. 

The England international found the net with an outstanding shot in the 10th minute, only for VAR to overrule the goal as Alex Lacazette was offside — judged by a line on a TV screen 200 miles away.

While the call was correct, it was such a slender margin as to be negligible and prompted the thought that VAR is as joyless as it is frustrating. 

Despite Arsenal’s frenzied start, the score somehow remained goalless. And further disbelief came when Pepe struck the bar on 25 minutes. 

But a Gunners goal finally came when Pepe fired home on 32 minutes to make it 1-0. The 25-year-old was a determined presence in the box, outmuscling Neves before nutmegging Nelson Semedo to unleash a powerful shot to beat Patricio. 

However, with the game nearing half-time, Luiz’s left knee made the slightest of contact with Jose’s left heel — leading the Arsenal man to see red. Neves fired home from the spot to make it 1-1. 

The former Chelsea defender’s contact with Jose looked minimal, but Luiz’s previous form of three sendings-off in Arsenal colours, along with six spot-kicks conceded, perhaps counted against him. 

Arteta hooked Lacazette, hoping that Gabriel would solidify the backline — but the ploy failed to work.   

Buoyed at being unexpectedly level, 240 seconds after the interval, Moutinho’s outstanding long-range goal put Wolves 2-1 ahead.  

Jose stung the hands of Leno with 19 minutes remaining. But, only 60 seconds later, the German saw red for handball.

With Adama Traore bearing down on him, the former Bayer Leverkusen keeper raced out of his box to bat the ball away with his arm. 

Despite it skidding up at him on the wet surface, it was a strange thing to do. But then it was a strange night all round, as Pawson reduced Arsenal to nine men.

Arteta hooked Thomas Partey for Alex Runarsson, giving the Icelandic keeper his league debut.  

Yet even a late run into Wolves’ half to take a free-kick came to nothing, as the Gunners desperately looked for an equaliser that did not arrive. 

Just like Arsenal’s fortunes on the night, it was not to be.