In a dramatic finish that had Emirates Stadium on its feet until the final whistle, Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in Premier League Matchweek 16, dramatically extending their lead at the top of the table.
The win was sealed late in stoppage time, in one of the most unusual sequences of the season.
The Gunners survived a spirited Wolves fightback to claim all three points, thanks to two own goals by Wolves players, including the decisive one deep into injury time that sent the home crowd into wild celebration
At 70 minute Arsenal finally broke through when a Bukayo Saka corner ricocheted off Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and into his own net, giving the hosts a late breakthrough after a first half that failed to spark.
At minute 90 Wolves strikes back just as fans began to sense a routine Gunners victory, substitute Tolu Arokodare stunned the Emirates, heading home to level the scores in the first minute of added time, marking his first Premier League goal and sparking hope for the visitors.
The drama was not over. Under pressure from Gabriel Jesus, defender Yerson Mosquera inadvertently headed Bukayo Saka’s cross into his own net, handing Arsenal the dramatic 2-1 lead and the win in the 94th minute
While Arsenal struggled to unlock Wolves’ deep defensive block for much of the game, Saka’s influence was undeniable, his two dangerous deliveries forced both own goals and ultimately proved decisive.
Despite sitting at the bottom of the Premier League with just two points, Wolves showed a gritty performance and nearly snatched an unlikely point, illustrating fierce resilience against the league leaders.
With the three points, Arsenal now sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League, keeping pressure on title rivals as the season heads toward the busy winter schedule.
However, the manner of the win, largely created by opponents’ errors rather than Arsenal’s clinical attacking play, has left fans and pundits debating whether Mikel Arteta’s side can maintain consistency against tougher opposition.
After the game, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta acknowledged his side’s lack of cutting edge on the night but praised the team’s ability to find a way to win even when the performance didn’t sparkle.
Wolves boss Rob Edwards, meanwhile, highlighted his team’s discipline and fight, stressing they deserved credit for a valiant effort that just slipped away.
An attendance of over 60,000 packed the Emirates Stadium, with supporters riding every twist and turn of a pulsating finish.
The late victory sparked jubilant scenes in the stands as Arsenal’s title charge remained firmly on track.
Arsenal now turn their attention to upcoming fixtures as they look to consolidate their lead, beginning with a trip to Everton next Saturday.
Wolves will look to regroup and chase that elusive first win of the season when they host Brentford later this month.
