wolves vs arsenal: Merson slams 'slow and lazy' display as title race tightens
Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Wolves, a result that handed momentum back to Manchester City and prompted sharp criticism from pundits and the Arsenal camp. Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie put the visitors two up, only for Hugo Bueno and late substitute Tom Edozie to level the contest, the latter scoring in the 94th minute. The slip means Arsenal missed the chance to go seven points clear at the top.
Late collapse hands City fresh hope
The draw at Molineux leaves Arsenal five points clear but vulnerable: Manchester City can reduce the gap to two points with a victory in their game in hand on Saturday. City also still have Arsenal to play on April 18, a fixture that now carries even greater significance. The missed opportunity to extend the cushion will increase the spotlight on Arsenal's remaining run of matches.
The sequence of events at Wolves was stark. Arsenal controlled the first half and took a deserved lead through Bukayo Saka before Piero Hincapie doubled the advantage. But the second half saw a loss of control: Hugo Bueno produced a superb strike to pull one back, and a late defensive mix-up allowed debutant Tom Edozie to scramble home an equaliser deep into stoppage time. That collapse follows a recent draw away at Brentford and highlights a pattern of surrendered leads this season.
Sharp criticism and management reaction
Former midfielder Paul Merson condemned Arsenal's second-half display as "slow and lazy, " warning that talk of players being 'bottle jobs' will grow louder after this late unravel. He argued the team switched down a gear when urgency was required, adding that if Arsenal failed to maintain a high tempo they would invite pressure and slip up in tight contests.
Manager Mikel Arteta was equally blunt about his players' standards. He said the side "did the basics so poorly" in the second half and admitted the team "deserved the hit" after errors compounded and control evaporated. Arteta urged calm and reflection rather than emotional judgement, stressing the need to recover quickly ahead of a north London derby on Sunday, when Arsenal face Spurs with kick-off at 4: 30pm ET. The manager emphasised it is a moment to learn and improve rather than to apportion blame publicly.
What this means for the run-in
Statistically, Arsenal remain in a strong position: winning all remaining matches would still secure the title. But the pattern of dropping points from winning positions has raised concern. Conceding a late equaliser to a team sitting at the bottom of the table will fuel narrative around mentality and consistency, particularly given recent seasons' near-misses in the title race.
Practical questions now loom: can Arsenal rediscover the tempo and composure of their best performances? Will the squad respond quickly in the derby, where pride and points are at stake? And can they withstand the psychological pressure if City maintain a flawless run? The answers will emerge over the coming weeks, with the April clash between the two title contenders likely to be a defining moment.
For now, Arsenal must absorb the disappointment, tighten their defensive communication and reclaim the standards Arteta demands as they head into a pivotal spell of fixtures that could decide the destination of the title.
