Arsenal ‘back to business’ as they beat Wolves 2-0
Arsenal shrugged off the disappointment of their UEFA Champions League exit to move back to the top of the English Premier League on Saturday with a 2-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard struck at the end of each half to take the Gunners one point clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Arsenal’s season was in danger of coming completely off the rails after a three-game winless run.
Manager Mikel Arteta’s men lost a Premier League game for the first time this year last weekend, 2-0 at home to Aston Villa, in between a Champions League quarter-final elimination by Bayern Munich.
However, they bounced back to keep the pressure on champions City, who beat Chelsea 1-0 to reach the FA Cup final earlier on Saturday.
“Massive win for us,” Arsenal captain Odegaard said. “It was a tough week for us, few tough results and emotionally really hard, but we had to keep doing. Today was all about bouncing back and getting the win.”
“Still a long way to go, still tight in the race, so today was all about getting back to business,” he added.
Arteta made just three changes from the side that lost 1-0 in Munich on Wednesday, and it took some time for the sluggish visitors to find their stride.
Wolves manager Gary O’Neil claimed his side have been struck by the worst injury crisis he has encountered in his professional career.
Yet, the undermanned hosts were nearly in front when David Raya was forced to turn Joao Gomes’ powerful effort onto the crossbar.
Arsenal had only fleetingly threatened before the break despite their dominance of possession, but they got the slice of fortune they needed to kick-start their challenge for a first title in 20 years on 45 minutes when Trossard’s mishit shot clipped in off the far post.
There was little in the way of goalmouth action in the second period as fatigue took hold of Arsenal in their fourth game in 11 days.
However, shorn of the threat of the injured Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto, Wolves lacked the attacking inspiration to further dent their title aspirations.
Odegaard made the points safe five minutes into stoppage time by catching Jose Sa out at his near post.
At the bottom of the table, Luton Town’s hopes of survival were hammered by Brentford, who routed them 5-1 at Kenilworth Road.
Burnley moved within two points of Luton and three of survival after cruising to a 4-1 victory at rock-bottom Sheffield United.