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In a Premier League game of pure passion and drama, Arsenal snatched all three points with a dramatic injury-time winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The visitors started the game on the front foot. Wolves opened the scoring with a composed finish from Hwang Hee-Chan inside ten minutes. Despite the Gunners having more attempts (26-6), Wolves did not let the hosts create any clear-cut chances.
Nicolas Pepe came off the bench to score the equalizer ten minutes from time, but there was more to come from Arsenal. Captain Alexandre Lacazette combined with Pepe to score a dramatic winner five minutes into injury time, courtesy of a deflection off Wolves keeper Jose Sa.
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On that note, here's a look at the five talking points from the game:
#5 Hwang Hee-Chan's early goal did not dampen Arsenal's confidence
The hosts were second best in the first few minutes of the match as Wolves took the game to Arsenal at the Emirates. An early lead through Hee-Chan was a setback, but the Gunners grew in confidence after conceding the opener.
As expected, the visitors were happy to sit deep and defend their lead throughout the game, but that terribly backfired for Bruno Lage's men. Their lack of attacking threat in the second half meant Gunners manager Mikel Arteta felt more confident in bringing in offensive substitutes like Nicolas Pepe and Eddie Nketiah. That proved to be Wolves' undoing on the night.
Wolves were cut open countless times throughout the game. Lage might look back at the game thinking his side could've sealed the three points if they pushed for a second goal. However, Arteta's men had other thoughts on the night.
#4 Gunners feel Emile Smith Rowe's absence
The Gunners were desperate for creativity and composure between the lines against Wolves. The visitors came into the game with the second-best defense in the league. conceding just 18 goals. Their defensive 3-4-3/ 2-5-3 was always going to be a challenge for the Gunners.
Despite getting all three points, it was far from a convincing win for Arteta's men. One might argue that the Gunners were lucky to take the three points.
However, what needs to be considered is that the Gunners were without their top goalscorer. Emile Smith Rowe has proved to be a viable option against sides like Wolves who sit deep and defend in their own half for most of the game.
The Hale End graduate can rip apart teams as he finds pockets in midfield and defense, and exploits them well. He has scored an admirable nine goals in 21 games so far and missed the Wolves game due to sickness.
#3 Arsenal attempt shots galore, but an own goal does the trick
In what seemed like a long night for Arsenal, Jose Sa scored an own goal to hand the Gunners three valuable points.
While Lacazette did his best during the move, he unintentionally kicked the ball into the ground, which then deflected into the net off Sa's palm. It was an unlucky goal to concede for the Portuguese, but credit to the Gunners for forcing the goalkeeper into making a mistake.
The goal, though, took the spotlight away from the bigger issues Arteta needs to address. One of them was their inefficiency in front of goal, despite registering 26 attempts.
The hosts shouldn't have left it that late for the game to be decided, taking into consideration the amount of chances they had. Lacazette, despite being heavily involved in the winner, was the major culprit in his side's poor display in front of goal.
Arteta needs to find a solution to the Gunners' lack of clinical edge sooner rather than later. Lacazette, for all his work ethic, has scored just three goals in 19 games this league season, showcasing exactly what Arsenal need; a goalscoring number nine.
#2 Thomas Partey displayed his class by pulling strings from midfield
Thomas Partey has been widely criticized since arriving in the Premier League, but he showed his class when the Gunners needed it the most. The African has been one of the team's best players over the past few weeks as he continues to control games well.
With 70 touches, five long balls, three key passes and six duels won, Partey was absolutely key for the Gunners in the middle of the field. Partey was top-notch with the ball at his feet. He constantly disrupted Wolves' deep block and cleaned up any threat to his defense with ease.
#1 Arsenal bolster top-four hopes
With the win, the Gunners have moved to fifth in the Premier league table. They are a point behind fourth-placed Manchester United, but have two games in hand. If Arsenal win their game in hand, they would be just two points behind Champions League winners Chelsea after 25 gameweeks.
It would be a testament to how much they've improved since losing their first three games of the season. The Gunners have been tested thoroughly this season. Injuries to key starters Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Martinelli and Kieran Tierney haven't helped their cause.
It will be some achievement if Arsenal qualify for the Champions League next season with the youngest squad in the league and almost no squad depth. The Gunners barely invested in the squad during the winter after letting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave on a free transfer.
The prospect of talented young players like Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard playing in the UEFA Champions League would be a sight to behold.
