Wolves 0-1 Arsenal: Match report & talking points from gritty Gunners victory | OneFootball

Arsenal rallied in the second half at Wolves and secured a vital 1-0 win in the West Midlands to keep them in title contention.

The Gunners' task on Saturday afternoon was made all the more difficult when Myles Lewis-Skelly was harshly sent off towards the end of the first half, but Joao Gomes offered Arsenal a route to three points by giving Michael Oliver no choice but to level up the playing field midway through the second half.

Riccardo Calafiori's strike proved to be the difference between the two sides in what was a controversial but low-quality affair. The result means Arsenal's deficit to Liverpool is still six points, while the situation hasn't changed for Wolves at the bottom of the table.

How the game unfolded

Arsenal received a couple of big defensive injury boosts ahead of the contest, with Mikel Arteta welcoming William Saliba and burgeoning midfielder-turned-left-back Lewis-Skelly back into his XI. Vitor Pereira, meanwhile, surprisingly named an unchanged team from Monday night's defeat at Chelsea.

There was early Gunners possession, but Wolves looked the liveliest in the opening stages as they snapped into duels and aimed to transition with speed. Pablo Sarabia spurned to first big chance of the contest after meeting Nelson Semedo's cross on the volley, but his effort sailed over.

The hosts were often the architects of Arsenal's first-half success as they constantly played their way into trouble. The visitors seized upon Wolves' build-up vulnerabilities, but they once again lacked the ruthless edge to punish. Kai Havertz twice should've given the title hopefuls the lead, but he placed one header wide and had another saved brilliantly by Jose Sa.

Those were Arsenal's two moments of note in an opening period bereft of craft and quality, with Martin Odegaard's absence only adding to the monotony. A rather stale first half was brought to life towards its conclusion by Michael Oliver, who sent Lewis-Skelly off for bringing down Matt Doherty with the Irishman attempting to break.

Feeling aggrieved, Arsenal didn't cave at the start of the second half, starting the stronger of the two sides as captain on the day Gabriel came close before Declan Rice stung Sa's palms. However, it didn't take long for Wolves to gain the upper hand with a man advantage as Matheus Cunha's influence increased. The Brazilian came close to opening the scoring from a set-piece.

However, Wolves' momentum was sapped after Joao Gomes' dismissal levelled up the playing field. Arsenal immediately took advantage and broke the deadlock with the contest heading towards the final 15 minutes. Half-time substitute Calafiori crashed the box and scored his second goal for the club with a cultured finish into the corner.

The division's sternest defence then had to shut out a team who'd lost their target man to injury in the opening period to see out an important victory. Wolves did have one moment, but Rayan Ait-Nouri shot at David Raya after bursting in behind. The Gunners otherwise didn't break a sweat in preserving their advantage.

Riccardo Calafiori's goal keeps Arsenal in the hunt

Calafiori's finish was lovely / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages

Liverpool were never going to lose at home to Ipswich (and they didn't), so Arsenal had to win here to at least maintain a bit of pressure on the league leaders.

Lewis-Skelly's red card reduced their chance of victory, but their performance even before Gomes was dismissed was full of bravery and character. They remained intent on pressing high up the pitch and were able to fashion chances at concerning regularity for the home team.

Once it was ten-vs-ten, there was only going to be one winner. The momentum was with Arteta's side, and they pounced right away. Calafiori's goal was well-taken after Arsenal tested the Wolves defence with another cross, and the Italian wheeled away in celebration much like he did at the Etihad back in September.

Their deficit to the Reds remains six points as a result of their resiliency and Calafiori making up for another profligate Kai Havertz outing.

How the set-piece mismatch played out

Arsenal weren't able to dominate from set-pieces / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages

Wolves entered the gameweek with the Premier League's worst defence and having conceded the largest percentage of goals from set-pieces (17 of 51 via Opta). Their inability to defend set plays was a major issue under Gary O'Neil, with Pereira doing plenty of work to tighten his team up from such situations.

However, Chelsea's success from the dead ball on Monday night highlighted that those issues remained and the signs were ominous for the hosts on Saturday as the division's most prolific set-piece outfit visited Molinuex.

On average, Wolves surrender the most corners per game in the Premier League, but Arsenal recorded just one in the opening period - and the delivery was poor. Game state meant Pereira's side weren't subject to a barrage, and while the Gunners created the bulk of their chances from crosses, they didn't capitalise on the obvious mismatch from set-pieces.

Another Arsenal player sees red at Molineux

Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off at the end of the first half / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages

There's something about Michael Oliver and Arsenal at Molineux. Remember when Gabriel Martinelli received his marching orders from Oliver having received two yellow cards in the same sequence?

Arsenal supporters have had a vendetta against the official ever since, and he wouldn't have entered any of the Gooners' good books after he dismissed bright teenager Lewis-Skelly on Saturday afternoon.

The whole stadium expected yellow once Doherty collapsed to the turf, but Oliver went one further and sent Lewis-Skelly off. The challenge was cynical, no doubt, but the fact Doherty was caught by Lewis-Skelly's studs above the ankle allowed VAR to stick with the on-field decision. It supposedly met the 'serious foul play' threshold.

Would anyone have batted an eyelid had Lewis-Skelly been cautioned? Gomes' second yellow card challenge was nastier!