LET’S GOOOOOOO. What a stupid soccer match. This team never fails to raise my blood pressure but somehow pulled off a 1-0 win over Wolves at the Molineux Stadium through a Gabriel goal in the 25th minute. Such a massive 3 points by Arsenal away from home while also keeping a clean sheett.
PRE MATCH/TEAM SELECTION – The team selection was just about what I expected barring Cédric coming in for Tomiyasu. ESR found himself on the bench but only due to Arteta going with the XI that he has preferred for the past couple of months. Wolves came out with their expected with their keeper Jose Sá being their standout player up until this point of the season with their manager doing quite a decent job with the team in his first season in Bruno Lage. Also, every game against Wolves reminds me that Daniel Podence is a footballer and then I always wish he was on our team only for that day as he always shows up against us.
FIRST HALF- The match started in a frenzied manner with both teams playing somewhat offensively with Arsenal getting control soon after. Saka found himself space on the right and was our best offensive player in the first half, taking on players and being direct. We then get our goal from a corner as Martinelli plays a hell of a ball in with Ben White keeping it alive to find Gabriel in front of net to finish it off. One of the biggest developments this season is Gabriel Martinelli the free kick/corner specialist, like what the heck. Lacazette then had a great chance from a nice passage of play down the right from Saka but hits it right at the keeper. Wolves ends the half with the momentum as they were pushing for the equalizing goal.
SECOND HALF – The second half starts with both teams not giving much up which is then the most bizarre situation I have ever seen in a soccer match occurs. Gabriel Martinelli gets booked with a red card for two fouls in the same sequence…. He first fouls Podence out of frustration on a throw-in which Michael Oliver gives the advantage for but then he fouls Chiquinho right after which then Oliver stops the game for. And then something I have never seen before, he takes a yellow and points it at Martinelli and then moves his arm to show that he is booking him with two yellows for those two fouls which subsequently gets him booked for a red card. What the fuck is that?!?!? It is so clear that Oliver is dying to get somebody with a red card as Mikel Arteta expressed something similarly after the match. Only a sad, depressed individual finds the energy to get somebody with a red in those circumstances. Martinelli definitely deserved a yellow but he only retaliated cause he was fouled earlier and Oliver didn’t do his job and call it. There are 3 absolutes in life. Death, taxes and Arsenal screwing with me week in and week out. HOWEVER, the boys pulled the game out with 10 men and secure the 1-0 away victory away. Massive defensive performance by the boys to get the win.
MOTM: Gabriel
The person I hate the most: Michael Oliver
PLAYER RATINGS:
Ramsdale: 7/10 – Made the saves when he had to, picked the right times to be aggressive
Cédric Soares: 8.5/10- Best Portuguese player on the pitch 🙂 Absolutely massive performance by him, fair play to him.
Ben White: 8/10 – Another massive performance by him to help us secure a clean sheet with 10 men.
Gabriel: 9/10 – Getting a knack for scoring against Wolves, also unreal at the back to secure the victory.
Kieran Tierney: 7/10 – Secure and tidy
Thomas Partey: 7/10 – Quality
Xhaka : 7/10 – Didn’t get a red card
Martinelli: 5/10 – Had moments where he was a threat, stupidly got sent off but as stupid as Oliver for actually doing it
Ødegaard: 6/10 – did his best to create for us
Saka: 8/10 – best attacking player on the night.
Lacazette: 5.5/10 – needs to score those two chances. Worked hard but we need goals from him.
Subs:
ESR: 6/10 – energetic but circumstances were against him
Holding: 7/10 – very useful at the back for the minutes he was on the pitch.
Nketiah: 5/10 – very sloppy
Featured Image Credits: REX