SMASH AND GAB ARSENAL

Gabriel the hero but Gunners do it the hard way after Martinelli gets 2 yellows in seconds

TEN-MAN Arsenal clung on to a precious victory to keep top-six pretenders Wolves at bay.

But they had to do it playing the last 20 minutes a man down after forward Gabriel Martinelli had a rush of blood to the head and picked up two yellow cards within seconds of each other.

In the end, defender Gabriel’s first-half goal was enough to take home the three points, which elevated them to fifth spot.

But Martinelli’s dismissal certainly did not help the cause.

First, he barged Daniel Podence over the touchline (below, left), then raced away to bring Chiquinho down (below, right) in the same move.

Referee Michael Oliver brandished his yellow for the second offence and then showed it again, pointing back to where the first offence had taken place.

Still Arsenal should have put the game to bed as they desperately hung on to their lead.

Alexandre Lacazette raced through with only keeper Jose Sa to beat, but curled the ball wide of the post in the 73rd minute.

Then the Gunners had to rely on keeper Aaron Ramsdale to keep them in front with a stunning save to keep out a Romain Saiss piledriver.

It was not pretty and Arsenal’s delaying tactics at times had the home fans howling their disapproval.

But they were doing a job on Wolves and managed to frustrate the life out of Bruno Lage’s men.

The opening 20 minutes did not produce a direct shot on goal, which was hardly surprising given the track record of the two sides.

Goalscoring for fun is not in the DNA of either side, despite the fact that they are scrapping it out in and around the top six of the table.

Wolves went into the game with the third lowest tally in the division on 19.

And the Gunners were looking to hit the back of the net for the first time since the 2-1 New Year’s Day defeat to Manchester City.

But they managed to smash that run when Gabriel fired them into a 25th-minute lead.

Wolves failed to deal with a corner and, though they complained bitterly that Sa had been fouled, referee Oliver was having none of it.

Lacazette clattered into the keeper getting a touch to Ben White’s flick-on and, in the ensuing chaos, there was Gabriel to prod the ball home from a couple of yards out.

Wolves tried to get back on level terms and only superb defending from Granit Xhaka denied Saiss as he steamed in to meet a great cross from Fernando Marcal.

Raul Jimenez rose to head Nelson Semedo’s cross towards goal, but it was never going to beat Ramsdale, who caught it high up.

But Arteta’s men really should have extended their lead shortly before half-time when Lacazette got on the end of a Bukayo Saka cross but shot straight at Sa.