Arsenal has slumped to their worst start in the Premier League since 1981 after losing 1-2 against Wolves at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
In the game overshadowed by a nasty head injury suffered by Wolves striker Raul Jimenez, Gunners were left without a point as the visitors took maximum points to the Molineux.
💬 "With Raul, we're really concerned because it looked serious. We want to send our best wishes for him and his family."
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 29, 2020
Wishing you all the best, @Raul_Jimenez9 🧡#ARSWOL
This is happening a year after Unai Emery was sacked. Arsenal has lost their last three games at the Emirates (1-0 against Leicester, 3-0 against Aston Villa and 2-1 against Wolves).
After the injured were attended to, the game bursted into life when Pedro Neto slotted home from close range after Leandro Dendoncker had headed Adama Traore’s teasing cross against the bar midway through the first half.
Gabriel restored parity for the hosts with a thumping header from a Willian cross just three minutes later.
Wolves would laugh last as they were the better side throughout. They got back into the lead again when Daniel Podence cleverly converted after keeper Bernd Leno fumbled Neto’s drive.
Afterwards, Arsenal rarely threatened, as striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continued his barren run. This leaves Mikel Arteta with much to ponder with his side languishing in the bottom half.
Wolves, on the other hand, are up to sixth and sit just four points off the summit in an increasingly congested top half of the table.
Arteta knows he could be sacked one day
Reacting to the club present status in the Premier League, Arteta expressed less worry about his position.
Arsenal presently occupies the 14th on the table after five losses in 10 league games.
“It’s something that the day I decided to be a coach I knew that one day I would be sacked or leave the football club but I don’t know when that is going to happen.
“In this profession, I know it will happen but I never worry about it.
“My only concern is to get the best out of the players and give the best possible service to the club,” he said.
One year ago, Arsenal sacked Emery while they were eight on the log, and there was a mutinous atmosphere around the club.
Although credit must be given to Arteta for the way he rallied the team last season to seal Europa League qualification by winning the FA Cup as he has also been able to stiffen the backbone of a team that was regularly accused of being flaky. Before Sunday’s fixture, only Tottenham had conceded fewer goals in the Premier League this season.
After doing some marvelous work with the team’s defense, Arsenal seem to have lost fluency going forward and their world-class striker and premium asset Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has only scored two league goals this season.
The skipper was only able to touch the ball eight times in the first half – and three of those were from kick-offs. After being gifted two second-half opportunities, the Gabon international failed to hit the target.
Beyond their equaliser, Arsenal rarely threatened a Wolves backline that is also notoriously solid.
As the season progresses, Arteta needs a swift solution to his side’s bluntness. This is happening on a day north London rivals Tottenham went back to the top of the table. Right now the Gunners seem further away than ever from the English top-flight’s elite.
Arsenal v Wolves: Game stats
- Arsenal’s tally of 13 points is their lowest after their opening 10 matches of any league campaign since 1981-82 (12).
- Arsenal has lost three consecutive home Premier League games for the second time since the start of last season.
- Wolves’ tally of 17 points is their most after 10 games of a top-flight campaign since 1979-80 (20 – adjusting to three points for a win).
- During 2020, only Manchester United (nine) have won more Premier League fixtures away from home than Wolves’ seven.
- Arsenal has lost five of their past eight league games, after being beaten in only five of their first 22 under Arteta.
- Neto has scored as many goals in Wolves’ 10 league matches this season as he managed in 29 last term (three).
