Arsenal 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hosts surrender another lead

Eight of Raul Jimenez's 11 goals for Wolves this season have arrived away from home

Arsenal manager Unai Emery says he feels "the responsibility" to improve results after Wolves fought back to claim a merited Premier League point at the Emirates.

Boos rang out inside the stadium as a turbulent week for the club ended with Arsenal collecting just their second point from the last nine available.

"I am very demanding of myself," Emery said.

"We are not proud of our result today. The result is not good.

"I feel every time my responsibility to work and come back with better results."

The afternoon had started brightly for the Gunners, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - standing in for the dropped Granit Xhaka as captain - opening the scoring to register his 50th goal for the club.

However, that was a rare blip for Wolves who repeatedly carved the hosts open and on another day may have claimed all three points.

And Nuno Espirito Santo's side got their reward when Raul Jimenez headed Joao Moutinho's hooked cross past Bernd Leno into the bottom right corner.

It ensured Wolves, who are up to 11th, stretched their unbeaten run to six games, while Arsenal remain in fifth.

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Familiar failings haunt Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Wolves: Draw not good for us - Emery

Arsenal have already surrendered leads against Watford and Crystal Palace this season, and this result did little to allay concerns over the team's perceived fragility in defence.

Former boss Arsene Wenger came in for criticism over this towards the end of his 22-year tenure at the club and there is a feeling that Emery has been unable to address those failings as he nears 18 months in charge.

While they were in total control against Watford and Palace before capitulating, that was not the case against Wolves who took the game to the hosts from the off.

The visitors had already fashioned at least half a dozen good opportunities before Arsenal opened the scoring against the run of play.

Aubameyang - who Emery later suggested could replace Xhaka has the club's captain - expertly finished from Alexandre Lacazette's pass to score his ninth goal in 13 games.

But the Gabon forward largely forced to feed off scraps with Arsenal managing just 10 shots compared to the visitors' 25, their was a sense of inevitability about Jimenez's equaliser.

However, only Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola currently enjoys a higher win ratio in the Premier League than Emery.

And the Spaniard's 59% currently places him ahead of Jurgen Klopp (58%), Mauricio Pochettino (55%) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (50%).

Wolves the comeback Kings

After a slow start to the season Wolves have now collected 10 points from the last 18 available on an unbeaten run that has seen them climb from 19th.

This performance which mirrored their showing in the 1-1 draw the Emirates last season was brimming with pace, energy and swift counter-attacking football which at times overwhelmed the hosts.

Roared on by 3,000 supporters draped in gold and black, Jimenez, Dioga Jota, Matt Doherty and Ruben Neves all featured prominently, particularly during the first period.

With the visitors sweeping forward at every opportunity, they conceded the softest of goals as the absence of their regular defenders - Willy Boly and Ryan Bennett - was felt when deputising midfielder Leander Dendoncker failed to spot Aubameyang's run.

But that did little to jolt or unnerve them as they continued in the same vein and pushed Arsenal back.

Arsenal 1-1 Wolves: We must defend better - Nuno

"We finished on the front foot and every time we broke the feeling was we could harm more," said Nuno.

"I am happy because we worked hard and showed character. This is the process we want. We want to go to every stadium and play with our identity."

Doherty saw his right-foot shot superbly saved by Leno, with the Arsenal keeper also forced into action by Neves and Mexico forward Jimenez.

Wolves, who have scored 86% of their goals in the second half this season, underlined their status as comeback specialists when Jimenez got his reward with one of his eight efforts on goal.

Nuno's team have now recovered to draw 1-1 on six occasions this season.

Man of the Match - Raul Jimenez (Wolves)

Raul Jimenez celebrates — Raul Jimenez had more efforts on goal then any other player and was rewarded for his perseverance

Shot-shy Arsenal - the stats

Arsenal have dropped points having scored the first goal in consecutive home league games for the first time since November 2004 (Southampton and West Brom).
Wolves have gone unbeaten in three league games against Arsenal (W1 D2) for the first time since a run of three wins between October 1978 and September 1979
Wolves have scored in 10 consecutive Premier League games for the first time.
Arsenal failed to have a single shot on target in the second half of this match, with their last effort coming in the 32nd minute.
Since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's debut in February 2018, he and Alexandre Lacazette have combined for nine Premier League goals for Arsenal - the most of any pair at the club in this period.
Wolves' Raul Jimenez has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season - only Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero (13 each) have scored more amongst Premier League players.

What's next?

Arsenal travel to Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League on Wednesday, 6 November (15:50 GMT) before their next Premier league outing at Leicester on Saturday, 9 November (17:30).

Wolves host Slovan Bratislava in the Europa League on Thursday, 7 November (20:00) and resume their Premier League duties when they welcome Aston Villa to Molineux on Sunday, 10 November (14:00).

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-3-1-2

1Leno
21Chambers
5Papastathopoulos
23David Luiz
3TierneySubstituted forKolasinacat 87'minutes
11TorreiraSubstituted forSakaat 73'minutes
29Guendouzi
10Özil
8Ceballos
9LacazetteSubstituted forMartinelliat 60'minutes
14Aubameyang

Substitutes

2Bellerín
19Pépé
26Martínez
28Willock
31Kolasinac
35Martinelli
77Saka

Wolves

Formation 3-4-3

11Rui Patrício
32Dendoncker
16Coady
27SaïssBooked at 67mins
2DohertySubstituted forVinagreat 71'minutes
8Neves
28João Moutinho
19Castro Otto
37Traoré
9Jiménez
18JotaBooked at 89minsSubstituted forNetoat 90+1'minutes

Substitutes

7Neto
10Cutrone
17Gibbs-White
21Ruddy
26Perry
29Vinagre
49Kilman

Referee:: Michael Oliver
Attendance:: 60,383

Match Stats

Home TeamArsenalAway TeamWolves

Possession: Home58%; Away42%

Shots: Home10; Away24

Shots on Target: Home4; Away8

Corners: Home8; Away9

Fouls: Home6; Away15

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Arsenal 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.

90'+4'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jonny (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
90'+4'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adama Traoré.
90'+1'
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pedro Neto replaces Diogo Jota.
90'
Post update
Attempt saved. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by João Moutinho.
89'
Booking
Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
89'
Post update
Mesut Özil (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89'
Post update
Foul by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
87'
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Sead Kolasinac replaces Kieran Tierney.
87'
Post update
Attempt missed. Sokratis (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross following a corner.
87'
Post update
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Leander Dendoncker.
86'
Post update
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Jonny.
86'
Post update
Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
86'
Post update
Foul by Jonny (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
85'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by João Moutinho with a cross.
85'
Post update
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Calum Chambers.
82'
Post update
David Luiz (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'
Post update
Foul by Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
82'
Post update
Foul by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).

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333 comments

"Arsenal held to 1-1 draw"

Arsenal shots: 10
Wolves shots: 25
Wolves were the better team today. A good point, but Wolves should have won.
Not a Xhaka fan.Doesn't cover defence or create for the forwards..however..the attacks on social media on his Wife and Child are sickening and disgusting as are the moronic imbeciles who write them.These cowards hiding behind their computer with their alias's ..need medical help so maybe they can salvage something from their sad.. unhappy .. pathetic lives. you must be very proud of yourselves !
Arsenal snatching a point from the jaws of victory as usual.

Well played Wolves.
"Arsenal held by Wolves"?????
In the match I watched it was the other way around.
Very surprised to learn Wolves had 42% possession.
Could and should, have won it comfortably.
Great display by Otto.
Baffled as to how Arse were 5th.
Up arrow for Emery is clueless and must go!
headline should be wolves held 1_1 by arsenal, wolves are the better team of the two
Xhaka was deffo not the problem: Emery needs to go now!

We won't finish top 10, let alone top 4, if this clown stays.

I see Aubameyang and Lacazette handing in transfer requests at the end of the season!

They deserve better than this mess!
Most Wolves fans will have taken a point before the game started. We are building and we are still learning. Arsenal away is never an easy play to go. Well pleased with a point.
Worst Arsenal team in 25 years.
Wolves held to a draw by Arsenal, should have been the headline #wengerin lol
Wolves did to us what we used to do to mid table teams. We really are going backwards at a fair old rate under Emery. If we can't play Auba, laca and pepe at home and attack then we are doomed cos we certainly can't defend. If we finish in top 8 we'll be doing well. Xhaka must be close to going just hope emery goes with him.
A very good point for us Wolves fans today. From what I hear, it was a very good game with both teams looking to win. On to the Villa next week.
Reading some of the comments on here, arsenal fans are so deluded.Giving it the whole 'we should be beating teams like wolves.'

It's 2019 - its been 10 years since you've been a top team.

At your place last season we should have beaten you.We came to you this season and should have beaten you.On top of that we battered you at home.

You're no better than teams like us now.Deal with it.
Is anyone really surprised with the performance and result. I'm all for giving managers time but its pretty evident that Emery isn't the right man. He's had enough time to sort this team out but there's no improvement. I think he's lost some of the dressing room with his treatment of Ozil and you can see he's starting to lose the fans now too. Leicester will beat us next week.
Well done Wolves should have won that one
Fantastic result Wolves, good professional performance and I think we could have nicked it.

Europe and unbeaten for a while, FWAW
1-0 up and subbing off our defensive mid to be replaced by an 18yo winger with 17 mins to go...

I don't jump to these things like a lot of reactionary fans, but Emery should be out the door. 3 wins and 5 draws is not good enough considering the opposition we have faced so far.

We should be deep in the mix for top 4 with the squad we have. Depressing to see we're only 3 pts off 12th.
Like I said Emery out.

He tries something different every week.
Substitutions again really random no purpose.
Defending still shocking as usual.
Attack still very controlled and limited not allowed to express themselves. was better today with ozil btw.

If this clown is not out by Christmas, all hell is going to break loose.

And please no spuds bother your a shambles. Thanks.
loads of empty seats in the arsenal sections, but will say 60,000. who does the head count dianne abbot

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