LONDON — If Arsenal experiences this level of stress during the title race in December, what can we expect come May?
The Gunners had to rely on two own goals from the struggling Wolves—currently the worst team in the league and on course to equal the worst record in Premier League history—to achieve the much-anticipated victory at Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening, restoring their five-point lead at the top of the table.
The 2-1 scoreline is all that matters for Arsenal right now. While they secured the win, the chaotic manner in which they achieved it raises significant doubts about their ability to maintain composure under the pressure of a title chase.
Almost everything about their performance echoed the Arsenal of previous seasons—characterized by a lack of finishing ability, an over-reliance on Bukayo Saka for creativity, and a tendency to relinquish control, allowing opponents to gain confidence.
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After a challenging first half and a slightly improved start to the second, Saka’s corner in the 70th minute was deflected onto the post by Wolves keeper Sam Johnstone, ricocheting off his head and into the net.
That should have eased their struggles, but it marked just the beginning of a tense finish. Like Sunderland the previous month, Wolves were invigorated by Arsenal’s defensive backward steps and reluctance to maintain pressure, pushing forward with multiple substitutions in search of an equalizer. They found it in the 90th minute when Saka allowed Mateus Mane to cross for Tolu Arokodare—both Wolves substitutes—to head the ball past David Raya.
Suddenly, Arsenal was on the brink. A draw, combined with a potential Manchester City win against Crystal Palace the next day, would have seen them lose their spot at the top.
In a last-ditch effort, Saka, the standout player who consistently pushed forward, delivered a 94th-minute cross that substitute Gabriel Jesus attempted to meet, but Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera inadvertently redirected it into his own net.
It was significant that Arteta chose to emphasize the issues that led to this tense situation rather than basking in the moment’s euphoria. He stated, “[The mood in the dressing room] is relief, but with a clear realization that the margins could have been greater. We weren’t precise enough in the first half, given the chances we had inside the opposition box and failing to pick the right shirt color. We needed to improve in the second half.
We did create more opportunities to score in the second half, but then we had a period of two or three minutes where we were deep, utterly passive with horrendous defensive habits, which is far from the required standard against a team that didn’t even get a shot on goal until that point. When they finally had a chance, they scored. Thankfully, we are relieved to have scored the winner, but we must improve in that aspect.”
Injuries have certainly impacted Arsenal’s performance. Center-back William Saliba returned for this match, but Ben White exited after just 31 minutes due to a hamstring injury. Arteta later remarked that it “looks like bad news” for White. Nonetheless, this cannot excuse a performance lacking the intensity warranted by such an opportunity to reaffirm their dominance in the league after a painful last-minute loss to Aston Villa the previous weekend.
Arteta has worked tirelessly to create a more intimidating atmosphere at Emirates Stadium, and while that effort has borne fruit, it has also contributed to the pressure that surrounded what should have been a straightforward home game. In this charged environment, his players must continue to execute their game plan under duress.
Manchester City has recently started to apply pressure, which, combined with a tough fixture schedule and missing key players, adds to the challenge. Guardiola has frequently reminded the media he knows how to win league titles—an unusual emphasis for a manager in December, but perhaps a pointed comment given Arteta’s relative inexperience.
“Every time you win the Premier League, you should celebrate and acknowledge its difficulty,” Arteta stated. “However, today we made it even harder for ourselves, and that’s the important lesson we need to learn. When the opponent deserves something, it’s acceptable, and they did a lot to complicate things for us, but we must ensure we rectify the areas within our control.”
If Arsenal can significantly improve, their superior squad depth should help them secure the coveted title. Without that improvement, they risk many more nerve-wracking matches like this one.