Arsenal vs Wolves LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
Relive all the action as the top-four rivals met at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal staged a dramatic late comeback to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 on Thursday with Nicolas Pepe and Alexander Lacazette scoring the goals to boost their hopes of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Wolves, who began the evening one place behind Arsenal, looked to move into fifth spot as they defended tenaciously to preserve the early lead given to them by Hwang Hee-Chan.
But the home side’s often desperate pressure was finally rewarded in the 82nd minute when Pepe turned well in the box and fired a shot past Wolves keeper Jose Sa.
In a frantic finale, Pedro Neto shot agonisingly wide for Wolves and Martin Odegaard went close for Arsenal before Lacazette scored from close range in the fifth minute of stoppage time to send the home crowd wild.
The win lifted Arsenal into fifth place with 45 points, one behind Manchester United but having played two fewer games.
Relive all the action from the Emirates Stadium below.
Alexandre Lacazette snatches last-gasp victory for Arsenal against Wolves
A joyous night for Arsenal, a devastating defeat for Wolves, and a late comeback completed and sealed not by the fab four, but attacking options number five, six and seven.
Against a team who play on the margins as much as Wolverhampton Wanderers, you do not offer them a sniff. You certainly do not gift them an opening goal. And that was almost Arsenal and Gabriel’s fatal error.
Instead, Mikel Arteta’s side turned the game around, scoring twice late on against the Premier League’s second-tightest defence and finally breaching the wall of gold that had stood in their way.
Alexandre Lacazette snatches last-gasp victory for Arsenal against Wolves
Arsenal 2-1 Wolves: The Frenchman struck deep into stoppage time to seal a huge three points for Mikel Arteta’s side in the top-four race
Post match thoughts of Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal’s matchwinner, Alexandre Lacazette, wasn’t awarded the winning goal - that’s gone down as a Jose Sa own goal - but he’s over the moon at being influential in Arsenal’s victory. After the game, he said:
I feel really happy, it is amazing to win this kind of game in the last minute. We really wanted this win because we know it is important to be at the top of the table.
“I knew it was the end of the game and Nicolas Pepe gave me a good ball. It went in and we are happy with the three points. A bit sad it is not gone down for me, I want to score but most important is to win.
“We had a difficult January but we are coming back better in February.”
Reaction from Kieran Tierney
Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney spoke to Amazon Prime Video after the game and gave his thoughts about that remarkable win for the Gunners. He said:
There are no better games in football. They are the kind of games you watch as a wee guy and to be a part of that is brilliant.”
“We need to [push for a top four finish]. I don’t see why not. We need to aim as high as possible. Results like this builds momentum and team mentality and that is what you want.
“It is a good night.”
Arsenal 2 - 1 Wolves
Nicolas Pepe equalised for Arsenal before Alexandre Lacazette won it for Arsenal in stoppage time.
Arsenal 2 - 1 Wolves
Wolves were unbeaten in their last 45 Premier League games in which they had opened the scoring, while going on to win 39 of those matches (D6).
That run ended tonight.
Arsenal 2 - 1 Wolves
Arsenal are up to fifth in the Premier League table just one point behind Manchester United with two games in hand. It’s a fantastic position for Mikel Arteta’s team to be in.
They’ve come from behind to beat Wolves at the Emirates. The introduction of Nicolas Pepe was a great call from Mikel Arteta and he’s been rewarded tonight.
Full-time: Arsenal 2 - 1 Wolves
90+6 mins: There goes the final whistle! It’s an incredible victory for the Gunners. Alexandre Lacazette may not be given the final goal but he deserved it for sure. He was the best player on the pitch for Arsenal tonight.
GOAL! Arsenal 2 - 1 Wolves (Sa OG, 90+5’)⚽️
90+5 mins: DRAMA! Arsenal go wild as Alexandre Lacazette finds the back of the net! Nicolas Pepe weaves is way over to the right side of the box before giving it to Odegaard. Pepe sweeps in behind him and receives the ball back before slipping it into the box for Lacazette. He comes in from the right and chips the ball pas the goalkeeper. It’s going wide but Jose Sa sticks out and hand and deflects it into the back of his own net!
Arsenal 1 - 1 Wolves
90+3 mins: Kieran Tierney comes down with cramp and Nuno Tavares comes on the replace him for Arsenal. Three minutes into stoppage time and neither team has got the ball near the opponent’s final third. This one is looking like a draw unless there is some really late drama.
Arsenal 1 - 1 Wolves
90 mins: There’s a right mess up as Wolves attempt to bring on Leander Dendoncker. The board says that Raul Jimenez is the man to go but he stubbornly refuses to do so. Bruno Lage is going wild on the sidelines saying that the board is wrong. The referee books Jimenez before the fourth official releases the mistake and eventually the board is changed and Daniel Podence is substituted.
After that, there’s going to be six minutes of added time to play.
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