Wolves 1 (Angel 85) Arsenal 3 (Butler-Oyedeji 67, 86, Kabia 70)
Arsenal took all three points from Compton Park as Wolves under-21s were beaten in Premier League 2 on Friday afternoon.
After a goalless opening 45, the Gunners scored three second half goals to secure the points, despite substitute Dani Angel briefly getting the Old Gold back into the game on 85 minutes.
James Collins fielded an experienced side which included the likes of Nelson Semedo, Nigel Lonwijk and Joe Hodge, while Leon Chiwome led the line on his return from injury.
Wolves were first to threaten and had a glorious opening when Semedo was able to collect the ball just inside his own half before running the length of the Arsenal half, which was open and completely free. As the defender closed in on goal, he looked to square to Chiwome but the Arsenal defender did well to recover and block the attempt.
Despite that early chance, opportunities in front of goal were few and far between, with Hodge’s deflected free-kick the only effort of note for either side.
However, the Old Gold should have broken the deadlock shortly before the half-time interval when a short free-kick to Owen Farmer was crossed in first time right onto the head of Lonwijk who saw his header saved at point-blank range by Jack Porter, before Alfie Pond’s follow-up was diverted off target.
Half-time | Wolves 0-0 Arsenal
There were positive signs early on for the home side in the second half, as a Matty Whittingham’s free-kick hit two Arsenal heads, but somehow they avoided the ball going into their own net.
Semedo then made tracks down the right and looked to cross for half-time substitute Angel, but the striker was beaten to the ball by the defender.
Hodge decided to take matters into his own hands as the midfielder made a bursting run through the centre of the pitch before teeing up Angel, however he could only strike into the gloves of Porter.
At the other end, Lewys Benjamin made a superb fingertip save to thwart the Gunners. However, from the resulting corner, the visitors took the lead as Nathan Butler-Oyedeji prodded home from inside the box.
Three minutes later, the Gunners doubled their advantage when Khayon Edwards slipped the ball through to Ismeal Kabia who slotted low into the corner past Benjamin.
Wolves were given a lifeline with five minutes to play when they pulled one back through substitute Angel, who capitalised by rounding Porter who had left his goal and finding the back of the net from a tight angle to score his first under-21 goal.
However, that hope lasted little than a minute when Arsenal regain their two-goal lead almost immediately as Butler-Oyedeji scored his second of the game to make the points safe.
Full-time | Wolves 1-3 Arsenal
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s travel to face Brighton & Hove Albion next Saturday in PL2.
NEXT THREE
- 31/08 Brighton (A)
- 03/09 Port Vale (A) BSM Trophy
- 13/09 Huddersfield (H) PL Cup
TEAMS
Wolves | Benjamin, Semedo (Keto-Diyawa 76), Lembikisa, Pond, Lonwijk (Hubner 46), Hodge, Esen (Okoduwa 89), Rawlings (Edozie 76), Chiwome (Angel 46), Whittingham, Farmer.
Arsenal | Porter, Nicholls (Quesada-Thorn 81), Skelly (Robinson 81), Kacurri, Heavan, Rosiak, Kabia (Ferdinand 90), Gower, Edwards, M-Hand (Dudziak 76), Butler-Oyedeji.
Subs not used | Okonkwo.
