Wolves vs Arsenal live: Late goal secures draw for hosts as Arsenal surrender two-goal lead
Wolves 2-2 Arsenal: Tom Edozie was the hero for Wolves with a stoppage time strike
Arsenal failed to weather a spirited fightback from Wolves and slipped to a 2-2 draw at Molineux having surrendered a two-goal lead against the Premier League’s bottom placed side.
The Gunners played this midweek match ahead of the weekend’s fixtures and managed to assert some pressure on the chasing Manchester City by earning a point and increasing the gap to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Bukayo Saka helped by ending his 15-game run without a goal and nodding the Gunners ahead inside the first few minutes of the game. Playing as the No. 10, Saka drifted into the box and glanced in Declan Rice’s cross.
Wolves responded well. They kept Arsenal at bay even managing to apply a bit of pressure in the second half. However, Piero Hincapie nipped in behind to double Arsenal’s lead for a goal that was initially ruled out.
Hugo Bueno then curled in a goal for the hosts which added an extra layer of tension to the closing stages as Arsenal employed dark tactics and game management. It wasn’t enough though as Tom Edozie came off the bench to latch onto a David Raya fumble and blast in an equaliser.
Relive the action from Molineux in our live blog below:
Arsenal drop points in Premier League title race after Tom Edozie’s dramatic late equaliser
Debutant Tom Edozie scored a dramatic last-gasp equaliser as Wolves came from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw with Arsenal and plunge the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes into further doubt.
Following their draw with Brentford, the Gunners were unable to cling on to three points in wintry conditions over Rob Edwards’s battling side who claimed another point in their unlikely survival bid.
Arsenal drop points in title race after Tom Edozie’s dramatic late equaliser
More from Mikel Arteta:
"Incredibly disappointed that we gave two points away. I think we need to fault ourselves and give credit to Wolves. But what we done in the second half was nowhere near our standards that we have to play in order to win a game in the Premier League.
"There are certain things, certain basics that today we are very far from our level, and when you don't perform you can get punished, and we got punished and we have to accept the hits because that can happen when you are on top.
"Certain basics we have to do we did them so poorly one after the other. And then you have no dominance, no control in the game."
Do Arsenal make the most of dominant position?
"Depends. Against Leeds, it didn't happen. Today we need to accept it,” Mikel Arteta said.
“We need to be critical of ourselves because it was not good enough. In the league, it is the reality that we have not been consistent over the last few months.
“You have to stand up. When you have a moment of difficulty, we have to show how much we want it and how good we are. We have to stand up."
Reaction from Mikel Arteta
The Arsenal boss said: "Very tough to accept it. In the second half we did not perform in the way we should and the way we require to win a Premier League match. It is better not to judge it, we are all too emotional about it. You have to take the hit because we deserve it.
"It is very easy with emotion to say things that can damage the team. Everyone wants to do their best. You have to go through tough periods. Today at the last minute, we paid the price. We have to do basic things much better than we have done."
Reaction from Bukayo Saka
Arsenal’s captain to BBC Match of the Day: "Disappointed. Not much else to say. There was a big difference in how we played in the first half and the second half. We dropped our standards and we got punished for it.
“Time to focus on ourselves, improve our standards and improve our performances and it is in our control."
Edozie on his goal:
"The ball dropped to me and just trying to keep it as low as people and just as hard as I can. They couldn't stop it, so it was my goal.
"Nothing was really going through my head, it was just loads of different emotions. I was so happy to be there when fans were cheering. Something I dream of."
Reaction from Wolves goalscorer Tom Edozie
The debutant told BBC Match of the Day: "It's a dream come true. Getting my debut is one thing and then scoring on my debut is another. Just so thankful, just so happy.
"100 per cent, I'll take the goal. Definitely my goal.
"As I was watching the game I saw the game becoming a bit tense and we had more control of the ball than before so I knew that going into the last couple minutes of the game it was going to be more end-to-end, so I just tried to do as best as I can. Luckily I scored."
Reaction from Paul Merson on Sky Sports
The former Arsenal midfielder said: “I know Arsenal have been in this position three times before but it might never happen again.
“Now, all of a sudden, it's out of their hands after being so many points clear.”
Who do Man City play next?
Manchester City will have the chance to properly assert pressure on Arsenal this weekend.
They face Newcastle in the late kick off (8pm) on Saturday and should they win they will cut the gap to Arsenal to two points.
The Gunners then face Tottenham on Sunday in what will be Igor Tudor’s first game in charge of Spurs.
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