Arsenal 2-1 Wolves: 5 talking points from huge comeback win

Arsenal has secured a memorable, vital, and dramatic 2-1 win over Wolves at the Emirates. After Hwang Hee-Chan gave the visitors the lead, it looked like a chance missed for the Gunners.

However, late second-half goals from Nicolas Pepe and an own goal from Wolves keeper Jose Sa lifted Arsenal into fifth, just one point behind Manchester United in fourth with two games in hand.

There was just one change to the side that defeated Brentford 2-1 last time out with Emile Smith Rowe out with illness and Gabriel Martinelli returning to the starting team.

Wolves started the brighter of the two sides and took the lead with just 10 minutes gone courtesy of a poor Gabriel back pass, one that allowed Hwang Hee-Chan to swoop in before he finished neatly from a tight angle.

Arsenal 2-1 Wolves: 5 talking points from comeback win as Nicolas Pepe and Lacazette secure three gigantic Premier League points

Arsenal continued to press the Wolves rearguard with Alexandre Lacazette missing several chances, as there appeared no way through with opportunities wasted. The half ended with ten shots from the home side with two on target to just two of the visitors as Wolves went into the sheds with a 1-0 lead.

The Gunners dominated the second half and put Wolves under real pressure. Wolves did well to repel any attack until substitute Nicolas Pepe produced a superb finish to bring Arsenal level. A great ball from Martin Odegaard found Eddie Nketiah, who laid a nice cutback for Pepe who swiveled and lashed home his shot.

With Arsenal continuing to put Wolves under pressure it looked for all money that the game was headed for a stalemate. That was until nearly the last kick of the ball. In the fifth minute of added time, Pepe and Odegaard linked up well to get Lacazette into space and the Frenchman thundered home his shot with a helping hand off Wolves keeper Jose Sa to send the Emirates into raptures.

What a Premier League win. This is why we love football. This is why we love Arsenal.

The game provided plenty of talking points. Here they are.

1. Alexandre Lacazette Redeems Himself

If Arsenal had not secured the three points tonight, then the finger would have been squarely pointed at the Frenchman.

Lacazette wasted countless chances in both halves as the Gunners’ need for a proven striker was clearly evident. For all his superb work rate and commitment to the cause, he was going to be public enemy number one had the team failed to win.

It will go down as an own goal from Sa, but Lacazette did redeem himself with just seconds remaining. The No. 9 was a constant beam of positivity all night and several times he was seen pumping up the crowd as Arsenal chased the game.

Shooting when he shouldn’t and not shooting when he should, it was looking like a truly Hall of Fame bad game for the 30-year-old. However, he stuck to his task and was somewhat rewarded with what he thought was his goal.

We should just give it to him anyway, shouldn’t we?

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2. Arsenal Show Incredible Mental Strength

It’s something that can’t be said of previous Arsenal teams, but under Mikel Arteta, they do not know how to give up. Ever.

After seemingly seeing their chance at gaining ground in the top four race slip through their fingers, the Gunners never stopped. They were constantly pushing the issue and pinning Wolves back. Teams don’t record 2.7 xG against this Wolves side. It doesn’t happen.

The entire side will get a deserved break now with no game this weekend – and they will need it.

If fans are looking to see what a superb team performance of mental fortitude can do, look no further than this game. In years gone by, players’ heads would have dropped, the crowd moaning and groaning, but there was none of that tonight.

There was a sense of inevitability about the result such was Arsenal’s willingness to assert its dominance over Wolves in what has now become somewhat of a rival game. 26 shots to six tells you all you need to know about how the Gunners went about it.

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3. Nicolas Pepe the Super Sub

Heavily maligned by Arsenal fans – rightly so – and being hit and miss for the majority of his career, tonight Pepe proved to be the spark for the home side.

Often doing things that others in the team simply can’t, Pepe was involved in both goals as his silky and deft touches allowed himself and teammates to operate in the tight spaces between what was at times a 10-man defense.

The Ivorian has every trick in the book, he just lacks consistency, and tonight, he was a real difference-maker, linking up well with Odegaard to get 2v1 situations and to work just that little bit of space.

His goal was simply superb. After being involved in the build-up, Pepe received a neat cutback from Eddie Nketiah with the Ivorian producing a sensational turn before lashing home to bring his team level. Rarely ever does he look this sharp, especially after barely being involved.

He was again involved with Lacazette’s goal (let’s give it to him) as his perfect cameo was complete. On a night when the Gunners looked bereft of attacking ideas at times, it was their most criticized player who came through with the goods on what was a sensational night in north London.

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4. Emirates Crowd is the 12th Man

Sometimes seen as the reason the players go into their shells when chasing games, as with every misplaced pass or missed shot on goal, moans, and groans can be heard echoing out across the stadium, on this occasion the home crowd was superb.

As they have been all season.

From the first whistle to the last, the crowd was consistently behind the players and pushing them towards a result. The noise from both goals sent shockwaves around the Emirates and in peoples’ living rooms as every single fan across the world knew how important this result was.

It is becoming a common theme now with fans seeing the potential of the side and showing a real willingness to back the players through thick and thin. On a night where it felt like it was just not going to be, the raucous crowd pushed the home team over the line.

As silly as it may sound, tonight had real European football vibes to it and if the Gunners continue in this form, then next season the north London club could very well be back among the elite.

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5. Arteta Has His Blushes Spared

Only going with two recognized strikers in Lacazette and Nketiah for the second half of the season is a recipe for disaster. Tonight, Arteta and Arsenal’s quiet January transfer window dealings nearly cost them.

A new striker is desperately needed and although they escaped tonight, it just further illustrates the need for Arsenal to sign a new frontman.

Had the Gunners fallen to defeat against Wolves or only managed a point, given Lacazette’s miscues, the Spaniard would have felt the wrath of the Arsenal faithful as he knew that a new striker was needed yet chose not to bring one in.

The Gunners escaped tonight, but it does have one thinking that even though they are in a good position now, this could come back to haunt them at the most unwelcome time.

But credit where it is due, Arteta managed this game superbly. His changes and his willingness to win got Arsenal over the line.