Arsenal 2-1 Wolves: Alexandre Lacazette nets last-gasp winner for huge victory in top-four race

Matt Verri24 February 2022

Alexandre Lacazette was the hero as he scored a 95th-minute winner to give Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Wolves and a massive three points in the top-four race.

Hwang Hee-Chan capitalised on a Gabriel error to give the visitors an early lead, and it would be one that they did not give up for more than 70 minutes as the home side struggled to find a way through some resolute defending.

But Nicolas Pepe came off the bench and produced a great finish with eight minutes remaining to get Arsenal level, before Lacazette sparked delirious scenes at the Emirates as Sa couldn’t keep out his strike.

Mikel Arteta’s side are fifth in the Premier League table, but they trail Manchester United by just a point with two games in hand.

Gabriel Martinelli returned to the starting lineup for Arsenal, for the first time since his controversial red card against Wolves two weeks ago.

The Brazilian was involved inside 20 seconds, going down in the box under a challenge from Nelson Semedo as he went to shoot, but Martin Atkinson waves the Gunners’ penalty appeals away.

If there’s one team you don’t want to gift an early goal to, it’s Wolves - they hadn’t lost a match in the Premier League after scoring the first goal for three years, going into this game.

Arsenal presented that chance in extremely soft circumstances though. Gabriel’s backpass to Aaron Ramsdale was a terrible one, allowing Hwang to pounce on it and go round the goalkeeper, before passing it into the empty net from a tight angle.

Raul Jimenez had a big opportunity to double the lead a couple of minutes later but dragged his shot wide, before Arsenal started to take control of the match.

Alexandre Lacazette had a shot from distance comfortably saved, and the Frenchman nearly diverted Kieran Tierney’s powerful cross into the net but the effort was blocked.

AFP via Getty Images

Martinelli cushioned an effort over the bar, as Arsenal went in at half-time trailing.

Hwang had a big chance after the break to get his second of the night, but Ramsdale did just about enough to divert a poked effort wide of the post.

The Gunners continued to press themselves, with Bukayo Saka having a curling shot blocked before Lacazette could only fire over the bar as he swivelled inside the box.

Arsenal’s captain should have done better with 20 minutes remaining as he found space in the box, but Jose Sa turned away his effort at the near post.

Eddie Nketiah was brought on for Cedric Soares, as Arteta threw caution to the wind in search of an equaliser.

The manager’s substitutions did the trick, as Nketiah cut the ball back into the box, Pepe turned in one motion to work it onto his left foot and then fire an effort past Sa.

It looked like it was going to finish level but Lacazette had other ideas, and even though it may well eventually go down as a Sa own goal after bouncing off Max Kilman and then the goalkeeper, that won’t bother the Gunners one bit as their winning run continues.

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