Wolves 0-2 Arsenal: Martin Odegaard double places Gunners 5 factors clear on the prime

Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta says everyone seems to be shocked on the Gunners surging 5 factors clear on the prime of the Premier League however that he’s decided his gamers ought to take pleasure in their current lofty standing.

It’s a main achievement for a membership that has not completed increased than fifth since 2016.

“Clearly no person anticipated us to be the place we’re proper now,” mentioned Arteta. “Nevertheless it’s nice to be the place we’re and we’re having fun with that second.”

Odegaard turned dwelling Fabio Vieira’s low cross from shut vary 10 minutes after the restart after which drilled within the rebound after Jose Sa had stored out Gabriel Martinelli’s low effort quarter-hour from time.

It meant there was no slip-up for the Gunners, who watched Metropolis’s defeat on the group coach as they travelled to the Midlands and celebrated when Ivan Toney scored in harm time.

“As you’ll be able to think about,” mentioned Arteta, when requested concerning the response.

“However that is the way in which that you simply dwell this league and that is the sweetness. You begin to do this on the second recreation of the season as a result of the competitors is so massive that you simply’re at all times taking a look at different opponents. It is one thing that each group does.”

There was extra excellent news from the Arsenal camp as Arteta revealed Granit Xhaka’s first-half exit was all the way down to a illness bug that affected the guests earlier than kick-off, somewhat than something that may put the Switzerland participant’s World Cup in jeopardy.

In distinction, Wolves are actually backside as new supervisor Julen Lopetegui prepares to take cost.

The previous Spain, Actual Madrid and Sevilla boss was launched quarter-hour earlier than kick-off at Molineux and watched the sport from the stands.

He noticed a microcosm of Wolves’ season given the hosts battled arduous and produced some alternatives regardless of spending a lot of the sport on the again foot, however have been undone by an absence of aim risk as they failed to attain for the eighth time in 15 top-flight video games.

Odegaard may very well be Arsenal’s title key

Twelve victories and 37 factors represents Arsenal’s greatest file 14 video games right into a season.

They do nonetheless must play defending champions Metropolis as their first deliberate league recreation towards them was referred to as off final month to permit the Gunners to stand up up to now with their Europa League programme.

Additionally they must face an in-form Newcastle, however they’ve met all the remainder of their ‘massive six’ rivals and look very a lot the actual deal.

Odegaard specifically has proved an impressed selection as captain by Mikel Arteta.

The 23-year-old Norwegian goes about his work in a quietly efficient means, clear in his passing and astute when it comes to his positioning, which given his central position is important.

He’s a aim risk too. His first was a poacher’s effort as he evaded the attentions of Wolves defenders regardless of his proximity to the house aim. His second concerned very good first-touch management because the ball ran out to him, then a exact end.

A lot has been fabricated from Erling Haaland’s possible influence for Metropolis after the World Cup, given Norway’s absence means he shall be resting when so many influential gamers are in Qatar. The identical can be true of Odegaard.

Lopetegui’s scoring drawback

As no Premier League season has reached Christmas Day with so few fixtures performed, comparisons to earlier years should include an asterisk.

And earlier than Arsenal’s supporters get too excited, it’s 1947 since they have been prime and went on to turn into champions, which now needs to be the goal.

On the different finish, solely three golf equipment within the Premier League period have escaped the drop after being on the foot of the desk.

If there’s a shining gentle on the finish of that specific tunnel for Wolves, the final group to do it have been Leicester, who went on to turn into champions the next season.

Chairman Jeff Shi has much less lofty goals judging by his programme notes, the place he admitted he does not ‘count on to begin profitable immediately’, which is a novel method.

There was no phrase from Wolves about Lopetegui’s contract however it could be a serious shock if it didn’t comprise an escape clause on each side on the finish of the season ought to the managerial change fail to work as hoped.

No supervisor could make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear although. And whereas Adama Traore’s tempo brought about Arsenal issues and Goncalo Guedes produced considered one of his simpler shows, Wolves didn’t discover the online.

They’ve scored solely eight occasions within the league this season, by far the worst return within the prime flight.

Diego Costa shall be again after suspension as soon as home fight resumes following Qatar 2022, though whether or not that shall be sufficient to avoid wasting Wolves is debatable.

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