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Premier League | Gameweek 31
Apr 24, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

3-1

Neves (28'), Doherty (37'), Jota (45')
FT(HT: 3-0)
Sokratis (80')

Live Commentary: Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 Arsenal - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage as Wolverhampton Wanderers register a deserved 3-1 win over Arsenal in Wednesday's Premier League game at Molineux.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers have recorded a deserved 3-1 win over Arsenal in Wednesday's Premier League fixture at Molineux.

Ruben Neves opened the scoring with a free kick, before Matt Doherty and Diogo Jota capitalised on Arsenal mistakes to put their side three goals in front.

Arsenal netted a consolation through Sokratis Papastathopoulos, but the Gunners were well beaten by Nuno Espirito Santo's outfit.

Find out how all of the action unfolded in the West Midlands courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal. The visitors have made the trip to Molineux knowing that a point will be enough to move into fourth place, while Wolves can advance up to seventh position with victory over the Gunners. The two teams are making their way out, so let's see who features in each starting lineup...

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI: Rui Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Neves, Jonny; Jimenez, Jota

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS SUBSTITUTES: Ruddy, Vinagre, Saiss, Gibbs-White, Traore, Costa, Cavaleiro


ARSENAL XI Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Torreira, Xhaka; Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi; Lacazette

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Cech, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Elneny, Guendouzi, Willock, Nketiah


KICKOFF:  We are underway at Molineux!

Not a lot has happened during the early stages. As you would expect, Wolves have seeing plenty of the ball at their home ground but they are yet to trouble the Arsenal backline.

SHOT!  Arsenal have the first opportunity of the contest with Ozil playing his part in getting the ball to Mkhitaryan. However, the playmaker's snap-shot goes over the crossbar.

Neither side are prepared to whip the ball around with much pace at this stage. Arsenal are probably shading it so far, but Wolves remain competitive.

Maybe this is Arsenal upping the tempo. They are speeding up their play once they enter the final third, and it is ensuring that Wolves need to stay alert. Ozil and Mkhitaryan are seeing plenty of the ball.

Wolves almost create an opening down the right flank. However, Jimenez allowed the ball to bounce too many times from a long throw and Arsenal comfortably dealt with the danger.

Back come Arsenal but an attempted through-ball from Torreira goes straight out of play. This game is lacking in quality so far.

There has been little to shout about from both teams, but they will still be relatively satisfied with the opening 15 minutes. That said, Wolves have barely laid a glove on the Arsenal defence.

Arsenal win a free kick in a threatening position, but Torreira's set piece goes straight into the Wolves wall. Sums up the first 17 minutes...

Jota wins the ball by one of Wolves' corner flags and proceeds to accelerate down the left flank. The Portuguese reaches the halfway line, but the ball eventually goes out of play. Better from the hosts.

SHOT!  Much, much better from Wolves. A counter-attack ends with Doherty laying the ball off for Moutinho to whip a first-time curler towards Leno's left-hand bottom corner, but the ball goes marginally wide of the post.

Wolves have really started to find their groove. The ball is being fizzed about with more intent, and there is more ambition to try to break down this Arsenal backline.

CHANCE!  Another chance for the home side. A long throw from Bennett is flicked on for Jimenez, but the Mexican can only volley over from close range after getting the better of Koscielny.

YELLOW CARD!  Again, Wolves break at speed through Jota and a ball inside to Jonny leads to the wing-back being tripped by Monreal, who is booked. Chance here.

GOAL!  WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1-0 ARSENAL (RUBEN NEVES)

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ruben Neves celebrates scoring a free kick against Arsenal in the Premier League on April 24, 2019.© Reuters


GOAL!  Wolves take the lead! The set piece is in prime position for Neves, and the Portuguese does not disappoint by curling the ball to the right of Leno and into the corner.

CHANCE!  Wolves are absolutely rampant right now. Another fast-paced move ends with Jimenez having the opportunity to get a shot away from 15 yards out. However, the forward is lacking a bit of composure and the ball goes harmlessly over the bar. That was a chance.

YELLOW CARD!  Another booking for Arsenal, with Koscielny preventing Jota from advancing into the area. Neves's resulting free kick - this time from a more difficult angle - is deflected behind for a corner.

Remarkably, Wolves have only had 27% of possession during this game, yet they are completely dominant. Arsenal obviously possess a stack of talent going forward, but they are being over-run.

CHANCE!  Lacazette does superbly to get past two Wolves players on the side of the area, but the angle is against him. The forward opts for power from 14 yards, but the ball goes well over the crossbar.

GOAL!  WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 2-0 ARSENAL (MATT DOHERTY)

GOAL!  Wolves deservedly double their advantage through Doherty! Moutinho and Jonny worked a two-on-one scenario on the edge of the area before the latter delivered the perfect inswinging delivery for Doherty, who beat Leno to the ball to head home from eight yards out.

Arsenal do not look like a side who are challenging for the top four. They are being thoroughly outclassed and outfought at this stage. Still, I suppose we are yet to reach half time. Arsenal tend to perform better after the break.

The visitors have applied some pressure since conceding the second goal, but Wolves are lightning on the counter. You sense that this is an important period of the contest.

Wolves are content to sit deep at this stage. They are allowing Arsenal to have the ball, but they probably need a breather. This has been as good as they have played for a while.

YELLOW CARD!  Torreira goes into the book after going into a challenge with Neves with his studs. There is an argument that he is fortunate to avoid a red, but Neves did just the same!

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

GOAL!  WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3-0 ARSENAL (DIOGO JOTA)

GOAL!  Wolves are in dreamland here! Xhaka misplaces a pass in midfield and Jota is away. He gets across Mkhitaryan - who makes a pathetic attempt to foul the Portuguese - and the forward is able to drill a low shot under Leno, who should do much better.

HALF TIME:  Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Arsenal

The half-time whistle goes at Molineux and Wolves lead Arsenal by a 3-0 scoreline. Wolves started slow, but they have been simply stunning since the 20-minute mark. Arsenal have been all over the place.

You will surely want to catch up with our player stats after that first half! Click here to see who has impressed for Wolves and who has been a passenger for Arsenal.

A quick reminder of the two benches...

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS SUBSTITUTES: Ruddy, Vinagre, Saiss, Gibbs-White, Traore, Costa, Cavaleiro

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Cech, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Elneny, Guendouzi, Willock, Nketiah


KICKOFF:  Wolves get us back underway at Molineux.

SHOT!  Arsenal waste no time in putting Wolves under some pressure, but a long-range shot from Monreal goes well over the crossbar.

Emery is getting a response from his players, but Wolves are perhaps guilty of sitting too deep at the start of this second half.

Jota is putting in a shift for Wolves. The Portuguese is technically supposed to be partnering Jimenez in attack, but the playmaker is finding himself attempting to win the ball in his own defensive third.

Wolves do remain a threat on the counter, but they are playing like a team who are defending a one-goal lead in the final 10 minutes. Still, this approach worked before the break.

The home side break at pace and should probably create a chance from down the right. However, despite the breakdown in the move, they manage to keep the ball. Arsenal are pressing their hosts too.

PENALTY APPEAL!  How have Arsenal not been awarded a penalty here?! Lacazette gets in front of Bennett and the centre-back clumsily sends the forward to the ground. It's a stone-waller. Lacazette was marginally offside, but he wasn't flagged.

SUBSTITUTION! Emery makes a double change with Kolasinac and Guendouzi being introduced for Mkhitaryan and Torreira.

Arsenal are beginning to see more of the ball again, but Wolves are prepared to sit deep and wait for the mistake.

More of the same from the visitors, but they finally concede possession when Lacazette fails to control a pass in the final third.

What Wolves are doing is not helping things from an entertainment perspective, but it seems to be effective. Arsenal are still probing away, but the minutes are ticking down.

CHANCE!  It should be four. Wolves break at speed and a chance is eventually created for Jimenez at the back post. The Mexican has time to control the ball, but his resulting shot flashes wide of the far post.

Arsenal are straight back onto the attack, but a cutback from Iwobi does not find a teammate by the penalty spot.

SUBSTITUTION! Arsenal make their third and final switch with Nketiah replacing Iwobi.

Nketiah makes an immediate impact by getting the better of Boly, but Lacazette is prevented from converting from close range by the boot of Bennett. It's a brilliant block.

Just the 15 minutes to go now. You'd expect the changes to come thick and fast from Nuno. Wolves face Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon. What a game that could be!

YELLOW CARD!  Coady takes one for the team by pulling the shirt of Lacazette in order to halt an attack. A counter had been launched after Jimenez had failed to use the ball effectively at the other end.

SUBSTITUTION! Wolves make their first alteration as Cavaleiro replaces Jota.

GOAL!  WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3-1 ARSENAL (SOKRATIS PAPASTATHOPOULOS)

Sokratis Papastathopoulos scores for Arsenal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on April 24, 2019.© Reuters


GOAL!  Game on. An inswinging corner finds Sokratis, who gets above the Wolves defence to power a header past Rui Patricio from four yards out.

SUBSTITUTION! Wolves make a second change with Traore replacing Jimenez.

This match certainly isn't over. Arsenal really have their tails up, and Wolves are having to do plenty of defending.

This is simply a case of attack versus defence now. There are signs that Arsenal sense an opening, and they have been boosted with Jota and Jimenez no longer being on the pitch at the other end.

Wolves are finally able to get the ball up the pitch, with possession being kept towards the corner before a foul is earned. They needed that.

SUBSTITUTION! Wolves make a final substitution with Gibbs-White being introduced for Moutinho.

There will be four minutes of added-on time. Arsenal have a free kick on the corner of the box.

SHOT!  How has this stayed out! Xhaka's delivery is struck with power and seems perfect for a teammate to convert, but Patrico somehow claims the ball down by the post.

It has to be said that Nketiah has been excellent since his introduction. The youngster is showing Emery that he is worth a chance in the first team next season.

FULL TIME:  Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 Arsenal

The full-time whistle goes at Molineux and Wolves have registered an impressive 3-1 triumph over Arsenal. The Gunners were overpowered by a 19-minute spell at the end of the first half, and it means that they remain in fifth position. Wolves have moved up to seventh spot.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.


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