Three things we learned from Arsenal draw as Mikel Arteta has to manage squad better | OneFootball

Gunners throw a two-goal lead away as their Premier League title hopes are plunged into further doubt

This was a truly awful night for Arsenal.

Against the worst team in the division, a Wolves side who have won once in the Premier League all season, they chucked in a performance lacking in any sort of intensity or authority.

Mikel Arteta's side were duly punished. Hugo Bueno curled in from distance and Tom Edozie struck in the 94th minute after David Raya spilled a cross as Gabriel tried to head it away.

Arsenal trip over themselves

Arsenal have had enough warning signs this season.

Time and time against they have had control of matches, conceded out of nothing and let their opponents back into the match.

On the whole they have got away with it, as they did with a last-gasp winner at the Emirates against Wolves.

Arsenal conceded a stoppage time equaliser against Wolves

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Not here, though. Wolves were remarkably passive in the first half, Arsenal dropped to their level and never picked it up. They turned it into an arm wrestle when it should have been a comfortable night.

The Gunners have failed to kick on in this title race on multiple occasions and the shambolic late mix-up between David Raya and Gabriel summed up their nervy, unconvincing character, not just here but in recent months.

They lead Manchester City by five points but have played a match more and still have to travel to the Etihad. This was a disastrous night.

Saka justifies No10 faith

After impressing in his 45 minutes at No10 against Wigan, Saka again got his chance in midfield here.

It was tough on Eberechi Eze, who now seemingly finds himself as fourth-choice, but Saka needed only five minutes to justify the decision.

With the freedom to drift into the box in a central position, he got on the end of Declan Rice's cross and headed past Jose Sa.

Saka's celebration, mimicking the signing of a contract, came after he is understood to have signed a new five-year deal.

Bukayo Saka ended his long goal drought on a night of very few positives for Arsenal

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Even aside from the goal, this was another promising No10 showing. Saka has the strength to ride the challenges in midfield and he rotated and combined nicely with Noni Madueke.

He also worked incredibly hard. Went he went off after 72 minutes, Saka led the way for Arsenal for tackles, interceptions and recoveries.

There was enough here to suggest Saka should start at No10 against Tottenham on Sunday, even if Martin Odegaard is fit.

Arteta not making the most of his squad

This was a bad night for plenty of the Arsenal starters and for all of the substitutes who came on.

Eberechi Eze could not get involved and missed a big late chance. Gabriel Jesus offered nothing. Leandro Trossard was loose on the ball and then had to go off.

There is a strong argument that Arteta did not make the most of the squad available to him, both in the changes he made and the ones he did not.

Martin Zubimendi struggled to have an impact and was far too safe on the ball. He did not offer the bite Arsenal needed in midfield when Wolves gathered momentum and yet still Arteta did not turn to Christian Norgaard.

Fatigued: Martin Zubimendi struggled against Wolves

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The former Brentford midfielder has filled in perfectly well this season in the cups and would have been a calm, experienced head here.

Jurrien Timber at right-back looked tired and after a bright start faded, barely getting forward in the second half. However, Ben White remained sat on the bench.

Zubimendi and Timber are two of the players Arteta trusts the most but there is no reason they need to be on the pitch at all times. Arteta has to manage his squad better and trust a wider group.