Gary O’Neil says Wolves could have “played safe” at Arsenal but was proud of how his side played their own game, despite finishing the losing team on Saturday.
Arsenal won the game through Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka goals, but Wolves had their chances, coming through their own creativity and pressing. Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha had chances go begging at the Emirates and O’Neil wants to brush up on the finer details which cost his side at the other end, but the head coach believes he was plenty to work with.
On a positive showing at Arsenal
“I thought we were good. I thought we were in the game at all times, carried a threat and needed a little bit more quality. Raya makes an unbelievable save from the header at 1-0. Obviously, Mateus misses a good chance, again at 1-0. I thought at that spell in the second half, we were one nil down, and we were pushing, and could feel we were right in the game. Then a disappointing second goal, obviously.
“I was pleased with most of it. It was always going to be a tough ask, and I can only ask my team to represent what we are and what we want to be, and they definitely did that today. Pressed quite well and loads of high regains against a good side. We were going to need to be good, and things go our way today, and we were good, but we didn't we didn't quite have the details in certain moments.
“Saka coming inside on his left foot is difficult to stop, of course, but we work hard on trying to get him down the outside in that moment. Head up from a cross where we don't quite recover into shape off the back of a set play so tiny, tiny margins that decide the game. Overall, real good first effort against the team that I think will be very close to the title again this year.”
On coping with Arsenal
“I thought the shape of the team, when we were in shape, was good. Obviously, the first goal comes off a set play, and we end up caught not quite back in shape, and not in set play shape, and Saka has too much time on the ball, and they score a good header. Normally, when we play big teams like this we would adapt more, change the game plan, be a little bit more safe.
“We weren't that today. We went with exactly what we want to be and exactly what we want to do, and I was pleased with how hard we pushed and disappointed. I don't like being pleased and taking no points, so disappointed with no points, but something to start with.”
On a positive spell in the second half
“We managed to clear a few bits up. Obviously, first half we were well organised and carried a bit of a threat, but apart from the big Jorgen chance, didn't really threaten their goal. Second half felt that we were a threat always, mainly from pressing and regaining the ball, some good spells of possession, and then just maybe a little bit of detail, I spoke to the players about how important those bits are. When you regain the ball and you can put your mate in on goal, those first passes are so, so important.
“But really pleased with the playing group, really pleased with all of them – subs had a good impact – a tough test today, and we gave it our best shot and came up a little bit short against a very good side.”
On the debutants
“I thought the two centre backs, obviously Toti was here last year, but I thought the two centre backs coped well. I thought they showed signs of improvement and signs of promise as a partnership. Rodrigo looked bright and lively. Good to get Matheus Cunha on and get him some minutes – he gave us something. Jorgen, obviously, unbelievably unlucky not to get his first goal. His movement’s fantastic and it's a great header, and just an unbelievable save from David Raya.
"I was pleased with a lot of them actually, to play like we did, to have as much of the game as we did, as much possession as we did at the Emirates takes a lot of work and a lot of effort. Pleased with what they managed to produce today, but we don't need to feel like everything's okay. We need to know we can do that and a bit more, because we're in the same league as Arsenal and we need to try and compete"
