Arsenal survive late scare as Wolves own goal seals crucial Emirates win | OneFootball

Arsenal find late escape against resilient Wolves

Arsenal left it painfully late but emerged with three vital points as a stoppage time own goal from Yerson Mosquera sealed a dramatic 2-1 win over Wolves at Emirates Stadium. For long spells this felt like an afternoon slipping through their fingers, yet it ended in relief and noise, the sort that only comes when tension has been stretched to its limit.

Wolves arrived bottom of the table but well organised, defending deep with a five man back line that crowded space and slowed the tempo. Arsenal dominated territory but not momentum, probing without penetration and failing to register a shot on target in the first half. The rhythm was fractured, the crowd restless, the sense growing that patience alone would not be enough.

Breakthrough built on pressure

The breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute, and it owed as much to persistence as precision. Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s most consistent source of invention, swung in a curling corner that Sam Johnstone could only divert onto the post. The ball ricocheted back off the goalkeeper and over the line, a goal born of pressure rather than clarity.

Even then, calm did not follow. Arsenal retreated instinctively, looking to protect rather than extend their lead, and Wolves sensed opportunity. Long balls began to arrive into the box with increasing regularity, and in the 90th minute that pressure told. Mateus Mane’s cross was met by Tolu Arokodare, whose header silenced the stadium and threatened to reshape the title race.

What followed was chaos, fear, then release. With seconds remaining, Saka cut inside from the right and delivered a teasing cross towards Gabriel Jesus. Mosquera, stretching to clear, could only glance the ball past his own goalkeeper. Relief swept the stands, joy mixed with exhaustion.

Wolves leave with belief but no reward

For Wolves, the defeat was cruel. Rob Edwards’ side executed their plan with discipline, absorbing pressure and striking late through Arokodare, a rare moment of attacking quality. Yet once again they left empty handed. Winless in 20 Premier League matches and now nine defeats in a row, the gap to safety has stretched to 13 points.

Arsenal, five points clear at the top, will move on quickly to a demanding trip to Everton. Performances like this may not linger in memory, but results like these often define title challenges.