Arsenal put a painful week behind them by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 at Molineux, lifting them to the top of the Premier League table. In the process, Arsenal kept a club record sixth consecutive away league clean sheet.FA Cup holders will defend the title – wasteful Chelsea fail to take advantage of ‘sad’ Man CityThe visitors – looking to respond after suffering a first Premier League defeat of the calendar year before being dumped out of Europe – started quickly, as Kai Havertz hooked the ball towards goal in the opening seconds, but José Sá made a comfortable save. Bukayo Saka also tested the goalkeeper early on with a header, while Gabriel Jesus scuffed wide from range. Declan Rice had a couple of efforts from the edge of the box, but Wolves grew in confidence midway through the first half, as João Gomes got the better of Jakub Kiwior before firing towards goal, only for David Raya to brilliantly palm onto the post.The game looked set to be level at halftime, but Leandro Trossard had other ideas, as the Belgian beautifully sliced his ninth league goal into the top corner from Jesus’ lay-off to put Arsenal ahead – making it his best scoring season in the Premier League.
The Gunners were now brimming with confidence as Havertz tried a volley early in the second half, but Sá held well, before Ben White skewed wide from distance. Wolves were on the back foot for the opening 25 minutes following the restart, but substitute Mario Lemina showed how dangerous a 1-0 scoreline can be when he cut inside Gabriel Magalhães before Raya saved his shot.Mikel Arteta’s side had a one-goal lead to hang onto in the final stages, and decided to drop back and absorb Wolves pressure in order to try and protect their slight advantage. After surviving some nervy moments, the Gunners had chances of their own to kill the game off, and Martin Odegaard did just that, slotting home at the near post to secure a sixth consecutive head-to-head victory for Arsenal. In contrast, the hosts are now winless in five matches, as Gary O’Neil’s team stay in 11th and without much left to play for this season.
PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 34SaturdayLuton – Brentford 1-5 (0-2)/Berry 90+2 – Wissa 24, 45+1, Pinnock 62, Lewis-Potter 64, Schade 86/Sheffield Utd – Burnley 1-4 (0-2)/Hamer 52 – Bruun Larsen 38, Assignon 41, Foster 58, Gudmundsson 71/Wolverhampton – Arsenal 0-2 (0-1)/Trossard 45, Odegaard 90+5/Sunday15:30: (2.05) Everton (3.50) Nott.Forest (3.90)17:00: (2.20) Crystal Palace (3.50) West Ham (3.45)17:00: (1.87) Aston Villa (3.70) Bournemouth (4.00)18:30: (5.70) Fulham (4.10) Liverpool (1.58)***odds are subject to change***