Wolves were left frustrated after being held at PL2 leaders Arsenal, who played over half the game with 10 men.
Henry Jeffcott was shown a second yellow card by referee Scott Tallis 10 minutes before the end of the first half, after his foul on Tyler Roberts earned a penalty for the visitors which Ollie Tipton comfortably slotted home. However, James Collins’ side were unable to capitalise on their man advantage and were pegged back on 55 minutes, as James Sweet snuck in at the back post to level. The Gunners had goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk to thank as he pulled off a number of fine saves to thwart the old gold throughout proceedings.
Alfie Pond, who recently signed from Exeter City, made his debut for Wolves in the heart of the defence, while Collins was able to welcome Nathan Fraser back from suspension as the striker returned to lead the line in Hertfordshire.
It was the home side who created the better openings in the early exchanges at Meadow Park. Inside the first five minutes, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji manoeuvred into some space on the edge of the penalty area which opened up the opportunity to shoot at goal, but his attempt was scuffed wide of the mark. Shortly after, James Storer was tested on two separate occasions, but the Wolves stopper clutched onto the ball having held both efforts well.
The game turned on 35 minutes as the visitors were presented with a golden opening to take the lead from the spot. A driving run from Roberts was halted inside the area by Jeffcott, with the referee having no option but to point for a penalty. There was further misery for Arsenal as Jeffcott, who was already on a yellow card, picked up a second booking of the afternoon and the hosts were reduced to 10.
Tipton made no mistake from the resulting spot-kick, as he sent Graczyk the wrong way and coolly found the bottom right corner to give his side the advantage.
Now a man up, Wolves were eager to put the game to bed before the interval by adding to their tally and there’s no doubting that’s exactly what they should’ve done. However, Nathan Fraser’s header from point-blank range dropped just wide before Dylan Scicluna was denied by Graczyk having been threaded through by Joe Hodge.
Half-time | Arsenal 0-1 Wolves
Wolves were made to pay for not finding that elusive second before the break as 10 minutes into the second 45, Arsenal levelled through right-back Sweet who had space at the back post to fire low past Storer.
And despite being a man light, it was the team in red and white who were presented with a glorious chance to take the lead just before the hour mark. Catalin Cirjan had the freedom of Borehamwood to take his time one-on-one against Storer with the goal gaping. But Wolves breathed a sigh of relief as the man wearing 10 skewed his effort wide of the right-hand post.
From then on, it was all Wolves as Collins’ men pushed for a winner that would see them end Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season. The away side worked an opening when Roberts combined with Luke Matheson down the right. The latter found himself in behind and unleashed a powerful strike that was met with the outstretched glove of Graczyk who produced an incredible save.
When the ball finally passed the man in between the home sticks, Arsenal had their defence to thank as a clearance off the line denied Lee Harkin a first of the campaign.
Wolves were forced to play a patient game against a resolute 10-men who were desperate to maintain their unbeaten streak. A move down the left-hand side saw a cross from substitute Aaron Keto-Diyawa cause panic in the box as the visitors kept the ball alive. Jack Hodnett, who had also entered the fray, turned to pick out Fraser whose spin and first-time effort was pushed away by the gloves of Graczyk once again to ensure a share of the spoils.
Full-time | Arsenal 1-1 Wolves
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s are back in Papa John’s Trophy action on Tuesday evening, this time travelling to League Two outfit Stockport County.
NEXT FIVE
- 20/09 Stockport (A) PJT
- 30/09 Porto (H) IC
- 02/10 Man City (H)
- 05/10 Valencia (H) IC
- 08/10 Liverpool (A)
TEAMS
Arsenal | Graczyk, Sweet, Jeffcott, Foran, Awe, Ibrahim, Cozier-Duberry (Robinson 81), Bandeira, Butler-Oyedeji (Vigar 76), Cirjan (Henry Francis 61), Sagoe Jr (Taylor-Hart 61).
Unused subs | Hillson.
Wolves | Storer, Matheson (Keto-Diyawa 73), Lembikisa, Griffiths, Pond, Tipton, Roberts, Hodge, Fraser, Scicluna (Hodnett 73), Harkin.
Unused subs | Sondergaard, Kandola.
