FESTIVE CHEER
Odegaard ensures the Gunners are top at Xmas
BEING top at Christmas is not what it once was. Fourteen games into the season does not really merit being a point of significance. And yet, it was hard to come over all Scrooge like and be over churlish about what Arsenal have achieved.
Five points clear with more than a third of the season gone is well beyond the expectations of anyone outside Mikel Areta’s immediate circle. Indeed, it may well surpass Arteta’s pre-seasons prediction
In the summer he installed Martin Odegaard as captain. For years, Arsenal have looked a team bereft of stable leadership. It cannot be a coincidence that just as they have found a man to bear that responsibility, they look a serious team.
Here he contributed the two goals that made a game that may have been a tricky late-night assignment into one they instead despatched with relative ease.
When we return on Boxing Day, we will all be waiting to see whether an Arsenal title challenge is for real and not just for Christmas. But the truth is, as was evident here again, this is a team to be taken seriously. They could falter and not win the title. But they are beginning to look the part.
Julen Lopetegui, the former
Spain, Real Madrid and most recently Sevilla manager, was introduced to the crowd beforehand and proceeded on a lap of honour, roundly applauded by almost all, though he looked a little bemused at the coolness of his reception when he reached the Arsenal fans, who were situated all the way along the lower tier of the Steve Bull Stand.
The Wolves fans already have a song for him, which is impressive given that scanning ‘Lopetegui’ into a chorus is no easy task. On the downside, it appears to be the tune of Black Lace’s ‘Do The Conga’.
In his last game in charge as interim manager, Steve Davis was taking no risks. This was a doggedly 5-3-2 formation, with little necessity for full-backs Hugo Bueno and Nelson Semedo to attack. As such, the game followed a predictable pattern: Arsenal passing sideways with 70 per cent possession and Wolves making the occasional foray forward as and when circumstance allowed.
There was some early drama nonetheless. Granit Xhaka, captain of Switzerland and Qatar bound, appeared in discomfort almost as soon as the game started and was replaced after 16 minutes, gesturing to his stomach. It did not appear to be a World Cup-threatening malady but any tweak or discomfort is alarming at this late stage.
Arsenal’s best moments in the first half involved Bukayo Saka, jinxing one way, then the other before unleashing a shot from a tight angle on 18 minutes which Jose Sa deflected away.
Minutes later, as Arsenal attempted to attack, Gabriel Martinelli slipped on the ball and Semedo pounced, sprinting forwards, making ground rapidly and feeding Goncalo Guedes, who shot just wide.
Ben White’s cross was just cleared off the head of Jesus by Semedo on 24 minutes and then Saka produced the best chance of the half on 36 minutes, making a smart run through midfield, covering ground at pace and playing in Jesus, who cut inside and fired his shot on to the cross bar.
Eventually, the patience and pressure told on 55 minutes. Arsenal emerged with more zest in the second half, driving forward with added incision. A beautifully worked move across the Wolves penalty area, which allowed Oleksandr Zinchenko to feed Jesus, resulted in the opening goal. Fabio Vieira, on for Xhaka, made an excellent run in behind the Wolves defence and Jesus delivered the pass perfectly to keep him on-side. It looked as though Vieira’s touch was a little heavy but his speed allowed him to get to the byline and pull the ball back across the goal where Odegaard turned the ball in from three yards.
Wolves were now somewhat stymied. Arsenal could bide their time, the pressure somewhat eased. On 69 minutes, they stamped their authority on the game. Sub Dexter Lembikisa dallied on the ball and Martinelli robbed him. He then produced a lovely back heel, which wrong footed the Wolves defence and allowed Zinchenko to run in behind and cross. First Martinelli shot and Sa saved but the ball fell to Odegaard. The Norwegian struck the ball sweetly through a forest of defenders to make it 2-0.
WOLVES (3-5-2): Sa 6; Collins 5, Kilman 6, Toti 6 (Nunes 80min); Semedo 5 (Lembikisa 68, 6), Neves 6, B Traore 6, Moutinho 6 (Podence 67, 6), Bueno 6; A Traore 6.5, Guedes 7. Subs (not used): Sarkic, Mosqueira, Ait-Nouri, Ronan, Hodge, Campbell. Booked: Toti, B Traore, Bueno.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale 7; White 7, Saliba 7, Gabriel 6, Zinchenko 6.5 (Soares 90); Partey 8, Xhaka 6 (Vieira 15, 7 (Elneny 90)); Saka 6.5 (Nelson 90), Odegaard 8.5, Martinelli 6.5; Jesus 7.5. Subs (not used): Turner, Holding, Tierney, Marquinhos, Nketiah. Booked: Partey, Gabriel.
Referee: S Attwell 5.