Wolves v Arsenal Molineux 7/11/09

The prospect of facing Arsenal in their current form is a daunting task for any team and a Wolves side that has racked up just ten points from their opening eleven fixtures would need to cause a huge upset if they were to get anything from this game.

The Molineux faithful were in good voice from the start as Wolves attacked the old South Bank end. They soon showed their attacking intent as they managed to pin Arsenal in their own half with some fluent attacking play.

Karl Henry marshaled the midfield proving the link between attack and defence. Kevin Doyle looked a real threat on the ball but despite all the Wolves pressure, they failed to create any real chances.

Midway through the first half Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby picked up a knock and was replaced by the youngster Alexandre Song.

This seemed to kick the Gunners into life and a breakaway attack saw them win a corner and create their first real chance of the game.

Cesc Fabregas whipped in the corner which was deflected by Ronald Zubar into his own net.

The goal settled Arsenal nerves and they continued to press, another lovely passing move setting up Eduardo whose delicate chip deflected off Jody Craddock to give Arsenal a two goal advantage.

The three points was all but sealed a minute before half time as Cesc Fabregas finished emphatically after some good work from Robin Van Persie.

The second half got off to a slow start as Arsenal knocked the ball around with no immediate urgency and Wolves tried desperately to regroup.

They soon found themselves in trouble again as another fluid Arsenal gave the visitors a corner. Wolves keeper Hennessey was forced to punch clear but the rebound fell to Andrei Arshavin who hit an inch perfect low drive which found its way into the bottom corner.

Wolves managed to grab a late consolation as Jody Craddock powered in a header from a corner with a minute to go.

The result means Arsenal move up to second in the Premier League and Wolves drop into the bottom three.


Wolverhampton

1 Hennessey
5 Stearman
6 Craddock
16 Berra
23 Zubar
4 Edwards (Mancienne 80)
8 Henry
20 Milijas Jarvis 74)
35 Castillo (Kightly 65)
9 Ebanks-Blake
29 Doyle

Substitutes

13 Hahnemann,
27 Mancienne,
07 Kightly,
15 Halford,
17 Jarvis,
10 Keogh,
33 Maierhofer

Arsenal

1 Almunia
3 Sagna
5 Vermaelen
10 Gallas
28 Gibbs
2 Diaby (Song Billong 24)
4 Fabregas
16 Ramsey
23 Arshavin (Nasri 74)
09 Eduardo (Rosicky 70)
11 Van Persie

Substitutes

24 Mannone,
6 Senderos,
18 Silvestre,
27 Eboue,
7 Rosicky,
8 Nasri,
17 Song Billong

Ref: Bennett
Att: 28,937