Tolu Arokodare
Arsenal needed two own goals, including the winner deep into added time, to overcome Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners put on a tepid display in the English Premier League (EPL) encounter, and it was a relief in the stadium as the Wolves goalkeeper and defender put the ball in their net to hand Arsenal all three points, while extending the bottom-placed club’s winless run.
Wolves were better organised and sat deep in this encounter, denying the Gunners space to operate. Arsenal failed to register a shot on target in the first half despite attempts by Gabriel Martinelli and Victor Gyokores, who returned from injury to start the match.
Arsenal improved following the entry of Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino, and the home side mustered their first shot on target, with Johnstone tipping Declan Rice’s free kick round the post.
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The deadlock was broken thereafter in the 70th minute, as Johnstone’s attempted save from Bukayo Saka’s audacious corner kick hit the bar, before coming off the goalkeeper and into the net for 1-0.
Late drama, however, ensued, as Tolu Arokodare, the Super Eagles striker who came on as a substitute, was in the right place to score a glancing header from a cross for 1-1 on 90 minutes.
Arsenal responded deep into injury time with the winner — another own goal. Yerson Mosquera headed into his own net from another Saka cross, to break the visitors’ resolve, and Arsenal won 2-1.
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Victory extended Arsenal’s lead at the top to five points with 36 points from 16 matches, ahead of second-placed Manchester City, who have played a match less. Wolves are stuck at the bottom with two points, as the season approaches its midway point.
Elsewhere, other Nigerian players were in inspired form as Calvin Bassey scored and Samuel Chukwueze provided an assist in Fulham’s 3-2 win at Burnley.
Bassey headed in a cross on 31 minutes to restore Fulham’s lead, before Chukwueze found Harry Wilson in the box for the clincher. Both players are expected to join the Super Eagles team for the Africa Cup of Nations next week. Liverpool and Chelsea also won their respective encounters by two goals.
RESULTS
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Chelsea 2-0 Everton
Liverpool 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Burnley 2-3 Fulham
Arsenal 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
