Arsenal snatched a dramatic late victory at the Emirates Stadium as Yerson Mosquera’s stoppage-time own goal sealed a 2–1 win over Wolves and restored a five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League table.
It looked as though the leaders were heading for a damaging draw against the bottom club when Wolves substitute Tolu Arokodare powered in a header on 90 minutes to wipe out Arsenal’s slender advantage and silence the home crowd. But just when the pressure threatened to mount on Mikel Arteta’s side, Arsenal found one final surge.
Bukayo Saka, the hosts’ most persistent attacking threat, whipped a dangerous cross into the six-yard box in the fourth minute of added time. Under intense pressure from Gabriel Jesus, Mosquera could only glance the ball beyond his own goalkeeper, sending the Emirates into raptures and breaking Wolves’ hearts.
The decisive moment spared Arsenal considerable embarrassment. A draw against a winless Wolves side would have handed momentum firmly to Manchester City, but instead the Gunners reasserted their authority in a title race already full of twists.
The match itself was far from comfortable for the home side. Wolves arrived with a clear plan and executed it impressively, defending deep, denying space between the lines and limiting Arsenal to zero shots on target in a flat first half. They even threatened to take the lead when Hwang Hee-Chan was played through on goal, only for David Raya to stand tall and make a crucial one-on-one save.
Arsenal’s breakthrough came in scrappy fashion midway through the second half. From a Saka corner, the ball struck the post and rebounded off Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, trickling over the line in cruel circumstances for the visitors. Rather than using the goal as a platform, Arsenal retreated and lost their grip, allowing Wolves to grow in confidence.
That hesitation was punished late on when Matheus Mane’s effort deflected kindly into the path of Arokodare, who made no mistake with a firm header to seemingly earn Wolves a famous point. The celebration was short-lived.
Saka responded immediately, delivering one last cross into the danger area, and Arsenal’s persistence was rewarded with the fortunate but decisive own goal that could yet prove pivotal in the title run-in.
The win was a huge emotional lift for Arsenal after last weekend’s defeat at Aston Villa, though it came with a concern as Ben White was forced off in the first half with a hamstring problem. Wolves, meanwhile, were left with nothing to show for a disciplined and committed display, slipping to a tenth straight defeat in all competitions and a fifth loss under Rob Edwards.
Arteta admitted afterwards that relief outweighed satisfaction, acknowledging his side’s standards dipped after taking the lead. Wolves’ manager, despite the crushing nature of the defeat, praised his players’ effort and unity, insisting performances like this will eventually bring rewards.
For now, Arsenal march on at the top, while Wolves remain rooted to the bottom — undone not by a lack of effort, but by the fine margins that so often define the Premier League.
