wolves vs arsenal: Gunners’ two-goal lead collapses as late Edozie leveller stuns Mikel Arteta’s side
Arsenal surrendered a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 with bottom-club Wolves, the visitors’ title credentials suddenly under fresh scrutiny after a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from a debutant. The result piles pressure on Mikel Arteta’s squad with crucial London derbies coming up.
Late collapse leaves title race more precarious
Arsenal looked to be in control after Bukayo Saka’s early opener and Piero Hincapié’s first goal for the club put them two up in the second half. The lead felt secure, but Wolves hit back through Hugo Bueno’s 20-yard curler, and the contest reached a chaotic climax in the fourth minute of added time when 19-year-old Tom Edozie capitalised on a defensive mix-up to fire home and earn Wolves a stunning leveller.
The draw means Arsenal have dropped four points from two successive matches, following a draw at Brentford, and their margin for error has tightened. Manchester City remain within striking distance, meaning the title race is no longer entirely in Arsenal’s hands if their rivals continue to accumulate results.
What will worry Arsenal is not just the lost points but the manner of the collapse: a combination of missed chances to put the game beyond doubt, a loss of control in the second half, and a late defensive lapse that invited Wolves back into a game they had been beaten in nine consecutive meetings. The result raises questions over mentality and match management at a decisive stage of the season.
Arteta accepts responsibility and braces for criticism
Mikel Arteta did not shy away from admitting disappointment. He said the squad must accept the fallout from a performance that fell short of the standards required to win in this league, urging that any opinions directed at the team be accepted. He described it as a moment to take the hit, but insisted the only remedy is to respond on the pitch.
The manager has a short turnaround with high-profile London derbies on the horizon. Those fixtures will be examined as a barometer of Arsenal’s mental resilience; recent history of near-misses will shape the narrative if the Gunners fail to regain composure. There will be scrutiny over tactical tweaks, substitutions and game management, as well as how Arteta steadies a squad suddenly reflecting on vulnerability at the worst possible time.
Wolves’ fightback and a debut to remember
For Wolves, the draw is a small, morale-boosting moment in an otherwise bleak campaign. Hugo Bueno’s long-range finish gave the home side hope and momentum, and Tom Edozie’s late intervention — coming off the bench on his senior debut — provided a dream end for a player who seized his moment at the perfect time.
The equaliser owed much to Arsenal’s miscommunication at the back, with a scramble culminating in Edozie’s shot deflecting in off Riccardo Calafiori. For Wolves, who are heading toward relegation, the result will be framed as evidence of spirit and persistence. For Arsenal, it will be a reminder that matches are won and lost on fine margins and concentration right up to the final whistle.
As the fixtures pile up, Arsenal must reconcile the gap between their season-long standards and recent performances. The coming weeks — particularly the immediate London clashes — will offer a clearer indication of whether this wobble is a brief stumble or the start of a more significant wobble in a title chase that had once looked increasingly comfortable.
