ARSENAL’S Champions League hopes took a major boost with three precious points against top-four rivals Wolves.
Hwang Hee-Chan looked to have nicked in to nab the only goal of the game with just ten minutes on the clock at the Emirates.
But Nicolas Pepe delivered the goods off the bench with a smart goal to level it up ten minutes from time.
And a 96th-minute own goal by Jose Sa sparked chaotic scenes in North London.
Here’s how SunSport’s Joshua Jones rated Mikel Arteta’s men…
Aaron Ramsdale – 5
Got away with one early on, slow to react before the flag went up against Romain Saiss who beat the goalkeeper to the ball and bundled in.
Then was beaten to the ball and rounded for Hwang’s goal but did enough to divert his effort wide of the post at the start of the second half.
Cedric Soares – 4
Given another run out as Takehiro Tomiyasu missed the game with a calf injury again.
Didn’t offer much going forward, not much to shout about defensively. Arsenal need the Japanese star back.
Ben White – 6
Could not have the fault pinned on him for the goal as it was his turn to be the standout defender for Arsenal.
Did almost draw the Gunners level when he cut on to his left peg but flashed a well-hit drive wide.
Gabriel – 3
Horror backpass gifted Wolves a tenth-minute lead as he completed miscued his wayward ball back.
Played Raul Jimenez onside three minutes later but the Mexican dragged wide… a major let-off for the tumbling Brazilian.
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Kieran Tierney – 5
Like Cedric on the other side, had little impact on the game.
Was sound enough defensively but trudged off limping in injury time.
Thomas Partey – 3
Misfired time and time again with the final ball – not helped by speculatively letting fly from miles out with better options available.
A poor performance from the Ghanaian international who has struggled since returning from the Afcon, too often choosing the wrong option.
Granit Xhaka – 5
A relatively quiet evening by Granit Xhaka’s deafening standards.
Tried his luck with a sweetly-struck strike but was well blocked.
Bukayo Saka – 5
Got in behind a couple of times but was not quite working for him, especially as he couldn’t get it on to his favoured left foot when he wanted.
Martin Odegaard – 8
Arsenal’s best player by a country mile, pulling the strings from the No10 position.
Denied a glorious chance to equalise seconds after the break… by Martinelli taking the ball off his toes.
But had his say with a sweet dink over the top for the pre-assist for the equaliser.
Gabriel Martinelli – 6
Sent off in the meeting between these two sides a fortnight ago but could have made an immediate impact when felled by Nelson Semedo after 20 seconds… but Martin Atkinson waved the penalty protests away.
Had a couple more half-chances but the first-minute action was as good as it got.
Alexandre Lacazette – 5
He huffed, he puffed but it appeared to just not be happening for the French striker at the moment.
As Arteta admitted, he needs his captain to start delivering or he can wave goodbye to the Champions League next season.
Had a number of big chances but despite getting into good positions just could not find the net…
Until the 96th minute with a dramatic winner – although replays revealed he actually scuffed it and it went in via the goalkeeper’s arm. A lucky escape.
SUBS
Nicolas Pepe (for Martinelli, 71 mins) – 8
The super-sub for Arsenal tonight, doing what his team-mates could not by finding a way past Jose Sa. Great turn, great finish.
Eddie Nketiah (for Cedric, 76 mins) – 7
The other new sub played his part in the goal, running in behind and pulling back for Pepe.
Nuno Tavares (for Tierney, 90 mins) – N/A
Like-for-like change for the injured left-back.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
