NFL
By: Ty Reeves
Wolverhampton Wanderers put an end to Arsenal’s seven-game unbeaten run after a 2-1 win at home that saw Arsenal play with nine men for the last 10 minutes of the match.
Right from kickoff, it seemed as though the game would be Arsenal’s to lose after a golden opportunity presented itself in the first minute of the game. Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey played an over the head ball to winger Bukayo Saka who managed to get behind the Wolves defense. The teenager took a touch and rifled the ball past the outstretched Wolves keeper Rui Patricio. The shot smashed off the woodwork wide to keep the sides level.
Arsenal would continue to dominate with attacking play throughout the first half. The Gunners would get the ball in the back of the net when striker Alexandre Lacazette headed the ball into the path of Saka, who struck it into the back of the net to give Arsenal a brief 1-0. The goal was then called offsides by VAR after the check showed Lacazette’s cleat put him in an offsides position.
Arsenal’s offensive determination finally paid off in the 32nd minute when winger Nicholas Pepe became a magician mid-game. The Ivory Coast international beat Wolves defender Nelson Semedo with a tough nutmeg. Then continued to nutmeg midfielder Ruben Neves and then curled the ball into the far post with his right foot to give the Gunners a deserved lead.
NICOLAS PEPE!
What a goal through the Wolves defense! #WOLARS pic.twitter.com/A80xRw5DT3
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 2, 2021
It looked as though Arsenal would go into halftime with a 1-0 but a lapse in focus defensively saw the Gunners conceded a last-minute penalty. The culprit, defender David Luiz, was shown a straight red card by the referee. After a VAR check, it looked as though Luiz didn’t go for the ball and that striker Willian Jose’s heal clipped the defender. Shockingly, the call was not overturned and Arsenal would be forced to play with 10 men for the rest of the game. Ruben Neves would step up for wolves and slot the ball into the back of the net on the stroke of halftime to bring the two sides level.
At the start of the second half, Wolves were pressing the Arsenal defense. Then in the 48th minute, Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho would take a touch and fire the ball from 35 yards out past the diving Bernd Leno to give Wolves a 2-1 lead. The absolute wonder strike struck the post on the way in giving Leno no chance.
MOUTINHO, MY WORD! #WOLARS pic.twitter.com/62rgcxS6rN
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 2, 2021
After that, things would only get worse for the Gunners. In the 72nd minute, Semedo would chip the ball over the Arsenal defense into the path of winger Adama Traore. Leno would run out of his 18-yard-box to play the ball when the ball changed directions. This forced the German to deliberately slap the ball out of bounds with his hand. The keeper would be immediately flagged and given a straight red card, forcing Arsenal to play with nine players.
Even being up two players, Wolves would not be able to break down Arsenal and the game would end 2-1. The win would move Wolves into 13th place, while the loss for Arsenal would keep the Gunners in 10th. The two red cards would put the Gunners at 9 red cards since Mikel Arteta’s arrival as manager.
