Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Wolves0 - 2Arsenal

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 April 2024, 06:40
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reserved special praise for one of his troops after Saturday's 2-0 Premier League success at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With Manchester City travelling to Wembley to face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals, Arsenal knew that all three points at Molineux would send them back to the summit of the top-flight table.

The Gunners had lost back-to-back clashes with Aston Villa and Bayern Munich in their last two games, though, and they suffered a pre-game injury blow with the news that Takehiro Tomiyasu had picked up a fresh knock.

Arteta kept faith with eight of his starters from the Allianz Arena, and the Gunners looked incredibly leggy at times, but they weathered a few Wolves attacks and went into the break a goal ahead thanks to Leandro Trossard's sliced finish.

There was little to write home about in a dull second half, where Wolves' attacking absences hurt them dear, and the Gunners wrapped up all three points in injury time as Martin Odegaard finished from a tight angle.

Arteta waxes lyrical about Trossard

Trossard's timely opening goal arrived right on the stroke of half time to help calm Arsenal nerves, and the Belgium international now sits in 14 strikes for the season in all tournaments, second only to Bukayo Saka'a 18.

Trossard has often been lauded for his impact from the bench this season, but having come good from the first whistle this time around, the 29-year-old was described as a "joy" to have around by Arteta in his post-game press conference.

"He's a little magician. He can score on any surface and he's a big threat; so composed, so cool, he can play in different positions. It's just a joy to have him in the team," the Spaniard told reporters.

Either side of Trossard's finish, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was a busy man at the other end of the field, and he bailed Jakub Kiwior out of trouble with a stunning save from Joao Gomes's effort.

Kiwior, who struggled at left-back for most of the evening, was caught unawares by Gomes, who subsequently surged towards goal and let fly, but Raya managed to tip the Brazilian's effort onto the crossbar at his near post.

Raya labelled "outstanding" after historic clean sheet

As well as recording his 13th clean sheet of the season, four more than closest Golden Glove challengers Jordan Pickford and Bernd Leno, Raya helped Arsenal record six consecutive away shutouts in the Premier League for the first time in their history.

"Very, very good. He didn't concede anything up to that point and we had some very open situations to score goals and we didn't, and that would have changed the course of the game for sure," Arteta said on Raya's brilliant stop from Gomes.

"David was outstanding in that moment to make the save that we needed, and we took advantage [of it]. I think the timing of the first goal was really helpful as well and I'm really happy."

On Arsenal's record-breaking streak of clean sheets, the Spaniard added: "Very difficult [to achieve], I don't know when it's the last time it was done, but I imagine it wasn't recently because it's extremely difficult to do that.

"Credit to the boys for the level of organisation, for the understanding and especially for the love they show while defending and the platform it gives to the team to win football matches."

The Gunners only have two full days to recover before they welcome London rivals Chelsea to the Emirates on Tuesday evening, where they can temporarily open up a four-point lead over Man City, who do not play again until Thursday night.

Top News

24 November 2024 talksport.com Trent Alexander-Arnold is a major doubt for Liverpool's blockbuster Champions League clash against Real Madrid this week. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester United's new era under Ruben Amorim got off to the perfect start with a goal inside two minutes against Ipswich. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has joined an exclusive Premier League managers' club thanks to the Reds' thrilling 3-2 fightback win over Southampton at St Mary's. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City are reportedly interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson in January. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Southampton have topped the standings in an unwelcome statistic after sloppily conceding at home to Liverpool. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Leicester City have announced they have parted company with manager Steve Cooper. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Arne Slot has continued his flying start to life in Liverpool after beating Southampton 3-2 at St Mary's Stadium. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian further extended his record-breaking season in the Brasileiro as Palmeiras defeated Atletico Goianiense on Saturday night. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool passed one of the most difficult examinations of their Premier League title credentials yet as they fought back from a goal down to triumph 3-2 over a spirited Southampton side at St Mary's. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City have announced the departure of manager Steve Cooper, with the 44-year-old being sacked off the back of Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly stepping up their attempts to sign Lille attacker Angel Gomes, with the North London club potentially getting a deal done during the January transfer window. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Manchester City will reportedly go head-to-head for the signature of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres during next summer's transfer window. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney is preparing a move for a young Liverpool striker who is the son of an ex-Birmingham City star. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk From dark horses to genuine contenders for the Serie A crown, Atalanta BC now hope to enhance their Champions League credentials on Tuesday, when they visit BSC Young Boys. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are once again expected to be without the services of Lamine Yamal for Tuesday's Champions League contest with Brest, as the 17-year-old continues to battle an ankle problem. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aberdeen, looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, will travel to the Easter Road Stadium on Tuesday to take on basement dwellers Hibernian. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be aiming to record their fourth Champions League victory of the campaign when they welcome French outfit Brest to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday night. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Malang Sarr's time at Chelsea was largely forgettable. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Kyle Walker has been offered a harsh reminder his career at the top level may be over after a tough game against former employers Tottenham. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On the back of contrasting results on the fourth matchday of the 2024-25 Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg cross paths on Tuesday evening in their latest European affair. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney admits he'd like to partake in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, but an appearance isn't imminent. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich remain without the services of Joao Palhinha for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, which could mean a start in central midfield for Leon Goretzka. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain will welcome Marquinhos back into their side for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Jamie O'Hara had plenty to say after Tottenham Hotspur's rampant 4-0 win at Manchester City. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Chelsea defender Malang Sarr has admitted that he was affected by comments made by Mauricio Pochettino during his time at Stamford Bridge. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United are reportedly contemplating whether to enter the race for PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Allianz Arena will play host to a blockbuster contest in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with Bayern Munich welcoming Paris Saint-Germain, and both sides will be under pressure to pick up a positive result. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams competing for a spot in the Championship playoff places will meet on Tuesday evening, as Watford host Bristol City at Vicarage Road for matchday 17 of the 2024-25 season. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly reached a decision over the asking price of Evan Ferguson. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Avoiding a catastrophic sixth defeat in a row will be the aim for Manchester City when Feyenoord touch down at the Etihad for Tuesday's Champions League league phase showdown.
Tomorrow at 17:30
A
Empoli Empoli
-
sch
Udinese Udinese
Thu 28 Nov, 17:45
EL
Qarabag Qarabag
-
sch
Lyon Lyon
Thu 28 Nov, 20:00
EL
Nice Nice
-
sch
Rangers Rangers