League leaders Arsenal let a 2-0 cushion slip as bottom side Wolves struck in stoppage time to earn a dramatic draw at Molineux, denying Mikel Arteta’s team the opportunity to move seven points clear at the summit.
The visitors appeared in total control early on. Bukayo Saka, celebrating his newly signed five-year contract, headed home Declan Rice’s cross in the fifth minute to register his first goal in 15 matches across all competitions.
Arsenal strengthened their grip after the interval when Piero Hincapie converted smartly from a Gabriel pass in the 56th minute, opening his account for the club and seemingly putting the contest beyond reach.
However, momentum shifted after Saka departed following treatment. Hugo Bueno reignited the contest five minutes later with a superb curling strike, before late chaos in added time saw debutant Tom Edozie’s effort deflect off Riccardo Calafiori and creep in via the post after confusion between David Raya and Gabriel.
Tempers flared at full-time when Gabriel Jesus pushed Yerson Mosquera, while Arsenal’s lead over Manchester City stands at five points, with Pep Guardiola’s side holding a game in hand.
Wolves show spirit despite bleak outlook
Although rooted to the foot of the table and 17 points from safety, Wolves demonstrated resilience and determination under Rob Edwards.
For an hour, it seemed another difficult evening for the hosts as Arsenal dictated proceedings. Yet once Bueno halved the deficit with the standout goal of the night, belief returned around the ground.
Nineteen-year-old Edozie, introduced for his senior bow, completed the comeback in dramatic fashion. Even if Calafiori’s touch proved decisive, the moment symbolised the fighting attitude Wolves have tried to rediscover.
Edwards, who replaced Vitor Pereira in November, has overseen a challenging campaign, but this hard-earned point — particularly after December’s 2-1 defeat at the Emirates when Mosquera’s late own goal proved costly — restored some unity at Molineux.
With relegation looming, the performance offered encouragement as the club prepares for life in the Championship while aiming for an immediate return.
Familiar questions resurface for title hopefuls
For Arsenal, the dropped points intensified concerns about their durability in the title race, having finished runners-up in each of the previous three seasons.
While Saka’s early header ended a lengthy scoring drought and Arteta’s decision to deploy him centrally initially paid dividends, the visitors failed to maintain attacking fluency.
Raya was untroubled before the interval, yet Arsenal never fully asserted dominance against the division’s bottom side, despite a run of nine consecutive victories over Wolves since 2021 and a 37-game scoring streak in the fixture.
Calafiori’s late introduction to reinforce the defence backfired almost instantly, as his deflection played a crucial role in the leveller.
With upcoming clashes against Tottenham and Chelsea, plus a visit to second-placed Manchester City among their remaining 11 matches, Arteta’s squad must prove they can withstand mounting pressure.
Despite remaining in contention on multiple fronts — including next month’s Carabao Cup final against City, a Champions League last-16 tie after topping the league phase, and an FA Cup fifth-round appearance — this setback cast doubt over their pursuit of a first league crown since 2004.
