Arsenal 1 Wolves 2 - Report

A sickening head injury to Raul Jimenez early on had everyone in the ground worried, but Nuno Espirito Santo's stars thrived in the face of adversity.

Goals from Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence either side of Gabriel's reply for the hosts sealed a hard-fought but deserved triumph in the capital, while the good news came that Jimenez was responding to hospital treatment.

Wolves are now sixth in the Premier League table.

Analysis

It has not been the most inspiring campaign thus far, but this was a night which left you extremely proud to be a Wolves fan.

The way Nuno's lot gritted their teeth and imposed their will after seeing Jimenez stretchered off early on was ever so heartening.

Not only were they courageous in the closing stages, but they were classy on the front foot.

Neto was magnificent from the first whistle right until the last, Podence was so quick to score the second goal, Adama Traore put in his best display for a while – and that is just scratching the surface.

Nuno, relieved to hear Jimenez was responding to treatment in hospital, wore a huge grin as he walked off the pitch, and rightly so.

This was undoubtedly the high point of 2020/21 to yet and, finally, they have their win at the Emirates – and their first at Arsenal in 41 years.

Playing four at the back was inconceivable a few weeks ago, but Wolves could really be onto something. A huge victory.

Match report

Wolves have become known for starting games slowly – first halves often tedious affairs – but there was plenty of attacking intent with the team selection at the Emirates.

Nuno, while sticking to the back four that shocked everybody against Southampton, made three changes to the side.

Neto came in on the back of his equaliser as a substitute against the Saints along with skipper Conor Coady, following his frustrating period of self-isolation, and Fernando Marcal.

Ruben Neves, Rayan Ait-Nouri and – perhaps feeling the hardest done by – Max Kilman were the ones to make way.

Whetting the appetite given the overall lack of goals so far this campaign, the line-up allowed forwards Neto, Traore, Podence and Jimenez to all be in from the off.

But the system and tactics soon became unimportant, with excitement turning into deep concern as everyone's attention went towards the condition of Jimenez after a clash of heads with David Luiz.

The Mexican was clattered into as Luiz looked to get his head on a corner delivery – players of both Wolves and Arsenal immediately shouting and signalling for medical attention.

And while the Gunners man was bandaged up and able to continue, Jimenez required oxygen as he was loaded onto a stretcher and rushed to hospital – resulting in 10 minutes of first-half added time.

As news on the striker was eagerly awaited, Fabio Silva entered the fray and Wolves, to their credit, were taking the game to Mikel Arteta's men. No doubt worried about their team-mate and friend, they were still making their presence felt in the final third and took the lead.

Traore – back in the swing of things – raced to the byline in trademark fashion and while his cross was headed off the bar by Leander Dendoncker, Neto was more than happy to gobble up the rebound from close range. A fine move.

Nuno's pack were more creative in the new formation, but also more open at the back. Arsenal were able to grab a swift equaliser, too, as Gabriel met Willian's cross and powered his header beyond Rui Patricio as the gold and black backline switched off for a split second.

That came just two minutes after Wolves' opener, but they were not to be deterred and continued to express themselves in attack.

Silva was doing his bit amid some clever link-ups, and another neat passage of play brought another goal.

Traore did well to feed Neto, who raced towards the box and saw his powerful drive parried by Bernd Leno. This time around, it was Podence who was quickest to react, taking a touch to set himself before slotting in for his second of the season.

They nearly grabbed a third before the interval as well – Traore rushing his effort slightly and brushing the side netting after a well-weighted pass from Silva.

Wolves deserve immense praise for how they went about their business to lead at the break after Jimenez's injury.

The start of the second period saw Arsenal centre-half Luiz, who had carried on bleeding for the rest of the first, replaced by Rob Holding as Nuno's lot carried on looking lively.

Neto, a menace throughout and joy to watch, tried to find compatriot Silva with a cut-back, but Gabriel just about got to it first.

Podence then turned Holding inside-out before seeing his left-footed shot superbly blocked by Hector Bellerin.

Upon the hour mark, it thankfully emerged Jimenez was conscious and responding to hospital treatment.

Back on the pitch, Wolves made their second change of the night as Neves replaced Podence, with the Gunners beginning to pile on the pressure.

Coady did brilliantly to bail out Patricio – making his 100th appearance for the club – after he had the ball stolen off him by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Kilman then came on for Silva as a vibrant and, towards the end, valiant performance ended with three points and sealed Wolves' first win at Arsenal since 1979.

Teams

Arsenal (4-3-3): Leno; Bellerin, Gabriel, Luiz (Holding, 46), Tierney; Ceballos, Xhaka (Lacazette, 80), Willock; Willian (Nelson, 65), Aubameyang, Saka

Subs not used: Runarsson (gk), Soares, Elneny, Nketiah

Goals: Neto (29), Podence (42)

Wolves (4-3-3): Patricio; Semedo, Boly, Coady (c), Marcal; Moutinho, Dendoncker, Neto; Traore, Jimenez (Silva, 15) (Kilman, 78), Podence (Neves, 70)

Subs not used: Ruddy (gk), Hoever, Ait-Nouri, Vitinha

Goals: Gabriel (31)

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)