Arsenal 5 (Xhaka 11 & 14, Saka 27, Jesus 58, Kiwior 78) Wolves 0
Wolves ended what has been a challenging season in dismal fashion, suffering another heavy defeat on the road by going down by five goals to nil at Arsenal.
Like at the Amex last month, Wolves gave themselves a mountain to climb by the midpoint of the first half and found it unsurmountable, after Granit Xhaka claimed a brace and Bukayo Saka added the third before the half hour mark.
Gabriel Jesus and Jakub Kiwior also scored after the interval to give the scoreline a more dominant look, which the home side deserved, with Wolves failing to register a shot on target. Julen Lopetegui’s and his side have a big summer ahead.
Life has been tough on the road of late for Wolves and a disastrous opening half ensured that would continue at the Emirates. Matheus Nunes actually had the first shot of the game, when his free-kick was headed behind for a corner, but those early positive signs were gone by the ten-minute mark.
It was a goal of simplicity for the hosts which got the ball rolling. Jesus worked the space out of Hugo Bueno down the Wolves left before hanging up a cross for Xhaka, who had been left unmarked between Nelson Semedo and Nathan Collins, and the midfielder’s header was too powerful for an exposed Jose Sa.
Wolves’ nightmares from Brighton last month were returning on 14 minutes when the Gunners cruised into a comfortable lead. This time it was Saka causing problems, coming inside Bueno and once Maximilian Kilman dangled a leg, the ricochet fell perfectly for Xhaka to sweep home the second.
Nathan Collins did come close to pulling a goal back for Wolves when his header evaded everyone in the middle. However, it was the hosts who scored next to effectively end the contest when Leandro Trossard found Saka and he was allowed to come inside and curl beyond Sa for 3-0.
Xhaka could have had a hat-trick too, had he not sliced wide, while Trossard fired a free-kick into the wall during a half which couldn’t have gone much worse for the visitors.
Half-time | Arsenal 3-0 Wolves
The deficit felt too much at the break for Wolves and by the time Jesus got in on the act on 58 minutes, it was all done. With a goal similar to the one which opened the scoring, the Gunners had their fourth, as Trossard held up a cross which Jesus headed in at the back post.
Wolves were creating nothing in way of a response, and it was a goalkeeping error by Sa which allowed Arsenal a fifth. Adama’s header fell to Kiwior in the box, but his shot on the turn was central and lacking power, but the Wolves goalkeeper fumbled the ball into his own net for number five.
That goal made the scoreline more one-sided, which reflected the contest. Joe Hodge did head an Adama Traore cross over the bar at the back post, but Aaron Ramsdale never looked troubled.
Instead, the Gunners cruised to their 5-0 victory, drawing the curtain on a challenging campaign for Wolves. It’s job done for Lopetegui, with survival long confirmed, the his side’s away form will be an instant area he’ll target improving next season.
Full-time | Arsenal 5-0 Wolves
Arsenal | Ramsdale, White, Kiwor (Tierney 80), Gabriel, Xhaka (Smith Rowe 75), Partey, Jorginho, Odegaard (Vieira 75), Trossard (Nketiah 80), Saka (Nelson 60), Jesus.
Unused subs | Turner, Holding, Bandeira, Walters.
Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Collins, Kilman (Toti 68), Bueno (Ait-Nouri 45), Gomes (Hodge 84), Lemina, Nunes (Neves 45), Adama, Hwang (Boubacar 67), Jimenez.
Unused subs | Bentley, Dawson, Sarabia, Cunha.
