Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League as they claimed a 2-1 home win against Wolves on Saturday afternoon.
Mikel Arteta’s side scored twice inside the opening 20 minutes, first through Bukayo Saka and then through captain Martin Odegaard, to seize control of the contest early on and become only the fifth team in Europe’s top five leagues to score more than 100 goals this calendar year.
They then cruised through the remainder of the game, before Matheus Cunha seized on a mistake from Oleksandr Zinchenko with just four minutes remaining to set up a nervy finish.
The league leaders saw out the closing stages, however, and should have extended their advantage, but substitute Eddie Nketiah hit the post when clean through.
90minsoccer rates Arsenal’s players from Emirates Stadium
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya (7/10):
Important save late on in the first half. Confident and calm throughout. Made another sharp stop after the interval to deny Cunha.
Takehiro Tomiyasu (8/10):
Another assist to add to the two he contributed against Lens. The biggest compliment you can pay him is that Ben White is going to find it tough to get back in the side given Tomiyasu’s exceptional form. Went off late on with what looked like a calf injury, which is a worry.
William Saliba (7/10):
Rarely troubled. Never really had to get out of second gear.
Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):
Same as his centre-back partner. Had the one slight mix-up with Zinchenko late in the first half, but aside from that was in cruise control.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (7/10):
Brilliant play for the second goal, but made a big error late on to hand Wolves a goal to set up a nervy finish.
Midfield
Declan Rice (8/10):
There can’t be a player better at winning back possession in the Premier League. Was there to poke the ball away every time Wolves looked to try and threaten.
Leandro Trossard (7/10):
Another start in a midfield role and was far more influential than he was at Brentford. Bright and lively whenever he was on the ball.
Martin Odegaard (8/10):
Lovely finish to make it 2-0, adding to his goal against Lens in midweek. Looked on it from the start and caused Wolves problems whenever he was on the ball.
Attack
Bukayo Saka (8/10):
Set the tone with his fine early goal. Caused Wolves problems every time he ran at them. A consistent threat.
Gabriel Jesus (8/10):
Looks back to his best. Excellent movement and link-up play. So influential in the move for the second goal.
Gabriel Martinelli (7/10):
Unlucky with one effort that came back off the post in the first half. Was on the fringes of things at times, but looked threatening every time the ball was worked out to him.
Subs & Manager
Eddie Nketiah (6/10):
So close to making it 3-1 but saw his shot come back off the inside of the post.
Kai Havertz (5/10):
Never really got into the game after replacing Martinelli.
Ben White (5/10):
Replaced the injured Tomiyasu late on.
Jorginho (N/A):
Came in for the final couple of minutes.
Jakub Kiwior (N/A):
Introduced late on in an attempt to preserve all three points.
Mikel Arteta (7/10):
Would have been delighted with his team’s display until the final few minutes. The team selection was spot on and Arsenal looked fluent in attack, but were unable to get the third goal to kill the game off.
