Mikel Arteta has one player to thank after Arsenal survived a huge Premier League scare to beat bottom-placed Wolves.
A Wolves side who are on course to become the worst Premier League team in history threatened to take points off title favourites Arsenal.
The Gunners broke Wolves’ resistance in the 70th minute as Bukayo Saka’s corner deflected in off goalkeeper Sam Johnstone’s head.
But Tolu Arokodare looked to have earned Wolves an unlikely point at the Emirates Stadium when he equalised in the 90th minute.
A draw to doomed Wolves would have given Manchester City the chance to draw level with Arsenal when they face Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
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But just as dropped points looked inevitable, Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera turned Saka’s cross into his own net to gift Arsenal a dramatic and late win.
Former Premier League defender Robbie Earle said Arsenal’s victory could have huge ramifications come the end of the season and praised Saka for ‘carrying’ the Gunners as some of his teammates looked done and dusted.
Asked whether Arsenal’s win was the sign of champions, Wimbledon legend Earle said on NBC Sports: ‘It very well could be and if we’re looking back in May and talking about games and moments, that could be one of them.
‘They will play far better but that was about digging in and getting it done. We’ve said with Arsenal they don’t seem to have the 20-goal striker like Man City do with Erling Haaland but they have set-pieces.
‘I’m going to mention Bukayo Saka because he’s a 24-year-old veteran this young man. He’s vice-captain and the one player who wanted to get on the ball and take people on.
‘He made the two goals. He’s a little diamond who’s come through the academy and someone who, when one or two of his teammates looked nervy, he continued to carry the fight.
‘I thought he was outstanding again and made sure Arsenal got what they wanted from the game.’
Saka, meanwhile, admitted ‘luck’ was with Arsenal after a dramatic win over Wolves, who remain stranded at the bottom of the Premier League on just two points.
‘Sometimes you need it [luck]. Today, it went our way,’ Saka said. ‘We will take the points and move forward.
‘We won’t know until May [how big a win it is], but we can be happy tonight that we left with three points.
‘Coming to the Emirates we want to make the teams know that it is going to be tough here and it is not going to be an easy game.
‘It was frustrating at times, I’ll be honest. The message to the boys was to stay patient and trying things – in the end we got our reward. Morale is high and we will try to keep it going next week.’
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