Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal led 2-0 through an early goal from Bukayo Saka and a second-half strike from Piero Hincapie, only to draw 2-2 against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers, thus punting a sizeable dent in their title hopes. In doing so, they set an unwanted record which could come to haunt them in May.
Combine that with the fact they’ve won just one of their last seven league matches and it’s an all-too familiar feeling at the Emirates Stadium.
A share of the spoils is enough to keep their position at the summit of the Premier League table, of course, but second-placed Manchester City now have a game in hand and just five points to make up.
The travelling contingent at Molineux let out a collective sigh of disbelief in at the face that Riccardo Calafiori turned in an own goal in the 94th minute. Hugo Bueno’s curler in the 61st minute indeed set the tone.
Arsenal set never-before-seen Premier League in 2-2 draw with Wolves
There were very few players in a red shirt who covered themselves in glory at Molineux on Wednesday evening. Read Arsenal gave Hincapie an 8/10 rating – but Gabriel Martinelli and Jurrien Timber all flattered to deceive.
A sense of nervousness overcame the league leaders as the defensive mix-up between David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori saw them concede a second very, very late on.
An unwanted record has emerged as a result of Arsenal’s capitulation.
According to Opta, this is the first time – in the history of the Premier League (since 1992) – a team at the top of the table have let a 2+ goal lead slip against a team inside the relegation zone.
Many expected Arsenal to win comfortably given they are positioned at opposite ends of the spectrum – but it was a far-from-comfortable night on away soil and that was evidenced by the Gunners’ messy defending late on.
Bueno’s 61st-minute strike changed the momentum.
Elsewhere, it was noted that Arsenal’s 58-point haul at this point in the season (27 matches in) is the fewest by any Premier League table-toppers since the 2015/16 campaign when the Foxes had a total of 56 points.
As things stand, the north London outfit remain five points clear of City as mentioned – but Guardiola’s pristine record and know-how when the going gets tough certainly plays in their favour. Can Arteta finally end his silverware hoodoo?
What went wrong at Molineux?
Martin Keown, an Arsenal legend having played for the club north of 400 times, claims that Arteta’s men missed the ‘all too important’ Kai Havertz against Wolves, especially as he often exudes that match-winning energy.
The German is in contention to play Tottenham Hotspur on the weekend – but would his return simply ease any concerns?
After the match, Arteta believed that he and his players – with City now even hotter on their heels – have themselves to blame for letting a two-goal lead slip. “We’re very disappointed with the end result, but I think we have to fault ourselves,” he said.
“I think the performance in the second half doesn’t show the level and the standards required in the Premier League to win in the manner that we should have won the game, especially in the way that we played in the first half.
“It’s very tough, we are frustrated because it’s down to us. It’s time to talk on the pitch because anything that we say right now comes from anger, frustration, disappointment, and there’s nothing coming through that is going to benefit and help the team going forward.”
