Arsenal 2 (Havertz 25, Saka 74) Wolves 0
Wolves will take heart from their promising opening day at Arsenal, which on another day would have been rewarded with a positive result.
Crucially, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka scored in either half – the German headed in a cross from the winger, who turned goal scorer by cutting inside on his left foot and firing home to end a previously competitive contest.
Between those goals, Wolves had their chances. Jorgen Strand Larsen’s header was brilliantly kept out by David Raya, while Rayan Ait-Nouri fizzed an effort narrowly wide and Matheus Cunha passed up his own opportunity to equalise, on an afternoon which will give Gary O’Neil confidence.
Despite trailing at the break, Wolves started and finished the first half positively in the Emirates sun. Strand Larsen, on his competitive debut for the club, was proving a nuisance early on, and once he got in behind Oleksander Zinchenko, Wolves had their opening, but Matt Doherty’s firmly struck attempt was bravely blocked by Gabriel.
For Arsenal, Ben White twice misfired from distance, while Saka’s two early efforts were comfortable collects for Jose Sa. The goalkeeper was playing in front of a partnership of Yerson Mosquera and Toti for the first time, and they’d looked solid early on, but were breached on 26 minutes.
Saka was allowed to come inside on his left foot and curled in a cross which called Havertz into action, and positioned between the two Old Gold central defenders, the German got a firm header on the cross and Sa was in no man’s land behind him, coming for the cross and missing, meaning the ball fell into the unguarded net.
Wolves had their chances to be level at the break, however. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s free-kick curled just over, while Strand Larsen was agonisingly close to equaliser when he got a firm header on Hee Chan Hwang’s cross, but despite moving in the opposite direction, Raya stuck out a strong arm to produce a stunning save and keep the Gunners level at the break.
Half-time | Arsenal 1-0 Wolves
Like in the first half, Wolves showed plenty in the second too, but their efforts ultimately went unrewarded. While Havertz and Gabriel were both off target with strikes from inside the box, Wolves grew in confidence as the half progressed and began to enjoy chances of their own.
First Ait-Nouri fizzled an effort atoningly wide of the post from the edge of the box, after Thomas Partey had given the ball away in a dangerous area, and when the midfielder did the same for Cunha on 66 minutes, the Brazilian will have been disappointed. Surprised to receive the ball on the edge of the area, Cunha steadied himself, but his left footed effort was a comfortable collect for Raya.
That was Wolves’ chance really. Martin Odegaard then stung the palms of Sa with an effort from distance, but on 74 minutes the occasion was ended essentially. When Mario Lemina was adjudged to have fouled on halfway and the Gunner jumped into action, working the ball to Saka, who came inside on his left foot and fired powerfully beyond Sa at his near post.
In the closing stages, Matt Doherty headed Chiquinho’s cross over at the back post, before substitute Pablo Sarabia latches on to Cunha’s cross and tested Raya with a left footed volley, but Arsenal held on to the clean sheet and won the game.
Full-time | Arsenal 2-0 Wolves
Arsenal | Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (Timber 69), Partey, Rice (Jesus 85), Odegaard, Saka (Trossard 80), Martinelli, Havertz.
Unused subs | Ramsdale, Nketiah, Jorginho, Nelson, Calafiori, Nwaneri.
Wolves | Sa, Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri (Dawson 84), Lemina, J Gomes (Sarabia 84), Bellegarde (Cunha 57), R Gomes (Podence 75), Hwang, Strand Larsen (Chiquinho 84).
Unused subs | Bentley, S Bueno, Doyle, Guedes.
