Arsenal back on track with much-needed win at Wolves

Wolves 0 Arsenal 2   
Premier League   
Saturday 20th April 2024  7.30 pm     

Looking at Manchester City’s fixture list, to have any chance of winning the title after the defeat at home to Villa, you really felt that Arsenal would have to win every one of their remaining six Premier League matches, and in spite of Wolves’ very weakened team, the Gunners’ own recent disappointments meant this was never going to be a walk in the park.

 

Wolves made life difficult for their visitors in the first half, as they struggled to create easy chances, with the opposition players proving adept at foiling Arsenal’s attacking moves when they came within range of the goal. There were potshots from the edge of the box, but nothing that you felt was a ‘must score’ moment. In fact, until Trossard’s goal as the interval beckoned, the best attempt to score was a Wolves break that exposed Kiwior and saw a Raya reaction save push the ball onto the post.

With Tomiyasu injured, Kiwior got a start ahead of Zinchenko. Apart from that it was the same starting line-up as the one that faced Villa the previous weekend. It wasn’t a huge surprise that Arsenal looked a bit off the pace. The intense consecutive midweek matches against Bayern Munich can only have been draining, and there were questions being asked about why Arteta always seems to come unstuck in April. Over-reliance on too small a group of players has been suggested as the reason for end of season fatigue and it’s difficult to argue with that. Yes, Arteta does rotate a little, but only with three or four players. The rest evidently aren’t deemed good enough. 

 

Trossard’s goal was a wonder strike after Jesus had worked hard to fashion the opportunity for his team-mate, and the timing couldn’t have been better, easing the pressure at half-time in a must win game. 

 

The result was always going to be more important than the performance, although Arsenal did pick up after the interval, and played far better in the second half. Wolves had to come out more in search of parity, and that allowed more space for the Gunners to build moves, although there was a long wait until the game was made safe by Odegaard’s late goal. Martinelli, on as a sub, should have even made it three before the final whistle. Who knows if goal difference will become significant, but you cannot rule it out. 

 

It was fortunate the team did not have to hit top gear, but it does raise the question of how much they will have in the tank for the two derby matches that come next – at home to Chelsea and away to Spurs. By the end of next weekend, we will have a much better idea of whether or not Arsenal have what it takes to challenge City at the death. Make no bones about it, realistically Arteta’s team have to win every one of their remaining five matches. Fans must hope for City to draw or even better lose one game, and the most likely places that might happen are at Brighton and, wait for it… Spurs. They visit the Amex on Thursday. 

 

One positive of Arsenal and City both going out of Europe, along with Liverpool and West Ham, is that it is likely to mean fifth place won’t now lead to Champions League qualification, so Spurs may very well have something to play for when Guardiola and his team visit the Lane.

 

For now, Arsenal have done what they can to get back on track. It’s about eking out results now, and another clean sheet on the road was encouraging in this regard. Do the same in their next two matches and they have an excellent chance of taking the six points they require, as they must. Every game has the importance of a cup final at the moment. Let’s hope the players can get over the line. 

 

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