Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Wolves: 5 things we learned – Unai Emery, it is time

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 02, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 02, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 02, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 02, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

With Mesut Ozil returning, Arsenal hosted Wolves on Saturday afternoon in desperate need of a victory. Here are five things we learned from the 1-1 draw.

If you were hoping that a run against bottom-14 sides in the Premier League would galvanise Arsenal’s season as they looked to put establish themselves in the top-four race, sadly, like many others, you were gravely mistaken. Against Sheffield United, Crystal Palace and now Wolves, the Gunners have just one point. Two of those games were at home. The latest, a 1-1 draw with Wolves on Saturday afternoon, saw the away side unleash 25 shots. That tells you everything you need to know.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Unai Emery out, again

Here are five things we learned.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Raul Jimenez of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 02, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Raul Jimenez of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on November 02, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /

5. Top four will be gone soon

Before the season started, Unai Emery’s targets were quite clear: re-claim Champions League status, either via a top-four finish in the Premier League, the ideal method, or by winning the Europa League. As things stand, Arsenal’s top-four hopes are not strong.

After this draw, Emery’s side sit three points behind Leicester City and Chelsea. Both are playing far more attractive and effective football and could be six points clear by the end of the weekend, with victories against Crystal Palace and Watford respectively. Arsenal also play Leicester away from home next weekend. They will be underdogs.

Should they lose that match, suddenly, the north London outfit will be facing quite the uphill task to recover their position among the top-four race, potentially falling nine points off the pace. With Manchester United and Spurs struggling as they are and Arsenal’s squad cleverly replenished in the transfer window, if there was a season to regain top-four status, this was it. But so far, that is nowhere near what has transpired.