Premier League: Two own goals spare Arsenal’s blushes in a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers

Arsenal consolidated top spot in the Premier League but needed a huge dose of luck in the form of two own goals to secure a nail-biting 2-1 win at home against bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead twenty minutes from time when Bukayo Saka’s corner bounced off the underside of the crossbar and into the net off the back of hapless Wolves keeper Sam Johnstone.

The hosts were not at their ruthless best and thought they had squandered their chance when Wolves equalized through Tolu Arokodare with normal time almost up, the substitute scoring with an excellent header.

Yet the Gunners were spared when Yerson Mosquera headed the ball into his own net under pressure from Gabriel Jesus in the 94th minute to ensure victory for the league leaders.

It was a quick restart for the north London side after seeing an 18-match unbeaten run snapped at Aston Villa last weekend. It left Arsenal on 36 points, five ahead of Manchester City and six ahead of Villa, with both in action on Sunday.

Wolves, meanwhile, remain winless after 16 Premier League games this season, and their two-point win is a joint-low after 16 games in top-flight history, level with Sheffield United in 2020/21.

It was Wolves who had the best chance of the first half as Hwang Hee-chan sprinted towards an empty Arsenal half that was left unmanned except for goalkeeper David Raya, who saved the striker’s effort.

Then the chances started to flow for the host team.

Gabriel Martinelli could and probably should have scored when he headed Declan Rice’s deep corner back across goal instead of into it, and shortly afterwards volleyed a Wolves ball narrowly wide from another corner.

The second half was more one-way traffic. Rice won a free-kick over the bar and then saw another shot on the edge of the penalty area brilliantly saved by Johnstone, preventing the ball from ending up in the bottom corner.

Arsenal also suffered their latest defensive injury when Ben White had to be replaced after half an hour, taking the shine off centre-back William Saliba’s return on Saturday.

Published on December 14, 2025