Wolves hit three past Arsenal to add another memorable night to the 2018/19 Premier League collection. Ruben Neves, Matt Doherty and Diogo Jota produced the goods to see Wolves return to seventh.
Wolves did all their business before the break. Neves found the back of the net for the first time in 81 days and in some style, curling a vintage free-kick over the Arsenal wall and out of Bern Leno’s reach to put the hosts ahead.
Doherty then met Jonny’s stunning cross and watched his thumped header flying home. Then, capitalising on Arsenal’s sloppy play in midfield, Jota charged typically at the defence and fired a rasping effort which was too hot for Leno to handle.
The Gunners replied through Sokratis’ header, but a comeback never looked likely and Wolves won for the first time in four matches to leap up three places into seventh at another electric Molineux.
The stakes were high for both teams and with Arsenal chasing a top four finish, they registered the first shot, however after Willy Boly gave away possession, Henrikh Mkhitaryan wasted the opening by lashing well over the bar.
Wolves were slowly feeling their way into proceedings and when Doherty’s pass allowed Joao Moutinho to line up an effort, the midfielder curled just wide, with Leno flying through the air to cover his post.
It was from a Ryan Bennett long throw where Wolves came close next, as Boly peeled off his man to flick on to Raul Jimenez, who stuck out a leg but could only divert over the bar.
Fortunately, the opening goal was just around the corner for the hosts. When Jota raced into space and set up Jonny, the chance looked over when Nacho Monreal cynically chopped him down, but it mattered not as Neves stepped up and whipped a brilliant free-kick over the wall, out of Leno’s reach.
Arsenal couldn’t handle Jota and Laurent Koscielny was the next to commit a foul in dangerous territory, but this time Neves’ free-kick took a nick and flew narrowly over the bar. From the following corner Bennett headed off target.
However, it was from the next piece where the second goal arrived. Moutinho exchanged passes with Jonny and watched his Spanish team mate whip in an unbelievable cross, which Doherty met before Leno and headed home.
Added time had already been announced for the first half, but there was still time for Wolves to add a third before the break. The Gunners gave the ball away criminally and Jota did the rest, taking the ball past Sokratis, outpacing Mkhitaryan and firming underneath Leno.
Half-time: Wolves 3 Arsenal 0
The Gunners enjoyed much of the early pressure after the break, but when Jimenez broke and squared for Jota, he couldn’t adjust to turn home with the best chance of the early moments.
It was Wolves remaining a threat in front of Arsenal's goal and Jota was again involved in the next break, freeing Jonny, who in turn found Jimenez wide right, but the Mexican lashed an effort across goal and wide of the mark.
Arsenal did find a reply late on when Sokratis leapt highest to meet a Granti Xhaka corner, but a comeback was never on the cards, as Wolves continued to search for a fourth goal.
Ivan Cavaleiro, Adama Traore and Morgan Gibbs-White all took to the Molineux field in the closing stages, but no further chances would arrive and Wolves saw out the victory in comfortable style to return to seventh.
Full-time: Wolves 3 Arsenal 1
Wolves: Patricio, Doherty, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Jonny, Neves, Dendoncker, Moutinho (Gibbs-White 90’), Jota (Cavaleiro 78’), Jimenez (Traore 83’).
Unused subs: Ruddy, Vinagre, Saiss, Costa.
Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Torreira (Guendouzi 59’), Xhaka, Mkhitaryan (Kolasinac 59’), Ozil, Iwobi (Nketiah 71’), Lacazette.
Unused subs: Cech, Mustafi, Elneny, Willock.
