Arsenal Vs Wolves: The opportunity still exists… just

Arsenal squandered a wonderful opportunity against Crystal Palace on Sunday. When they travel to Wolves on Wednesday, that opportunity still exists… just.

It was a rare and unique opportunity. Tottenham Hotspur had lost. Manchester United were thumped by Everton. Chelsea were not playing until Monday night. Arsenal, hosting the now-safe Crystal Palace, coming off ten successive home victories, could move into third and take a firm grip on a top-four finish.

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They proceeded to squander that opportunity with one of the most lacklustre performances of the season. Palace won 3-2, scoring three goals from three set pieces, and outshot their hosts in a game in which they were much the better team. The one match that the Gunners needed a performance from? They did not get it.

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However, such is the way the table has fallen, especially after Chelsea being held by Burnley 2-2 on Monday night, that opportunity is still present when Unai Emery sends his team to Wolves on Wednesday night. Chelsea moved up to fourth on Monday with the draw, but they have now played one more game than the north London pair. Manchester United, realistically, are out of the equation, not only being two points behind fifth but also having to play both Manchester City and Chelsea between now and the end of the year.

All this brings me to Wednesday night when Arsenal travel to Wolves. Should they manage to find a win against an excellent team, especially at home, they will move into fourth place, two points clear of Chelsea — they could potentially move into third place depending on Spurs’ result against Brighton on Tuesday night.

Moreover, with the Gunners improved goal difference, currently four clear of Chelsea’s goal difference, even a draw on Wednesday would move them ahead of their London rivals and into a good position to finish in the top four given that Chelsea play Man. Utd at the weekend.

The opportunity that presented Arsenal on Sunday still remains on Wednesday. They bottled it at the weekend, with the lacking performance a clear indication of their mental vulnerabilities when the pressure is on. They cannot afford to do so again against Wolves.

Whether they are capable of that remains to be seen. Wolves are arguably the best team in the Premier League not in the top six. They have already defeated Manchester United and drawn with City. Beating Wolves is far from an easy task, particularly given the record on the road.

The need to perform, then, is once more at its greatest, as will always be the case at the crunch point of the season. But whether Emery and his players will perform or not, I do not know. They didn’t on Sunday. The opportunity, though, is there. Can they now take it?