Arsenal 1-1 Wolves: Henrikh Mkhitaryan snatches point for Gunners

Report and highlights as Henrikh Mkhitaryan scores for Gunners

By James Walker-Roberts

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Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches as Henrikh Mkhitaryan's late equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw with Wolves at the Emirates on Sunday.

Ivan Cavaleiro took advantage of an error by Granit Xhaka to put Wolves ahead in the 13th minute.

Arsenal were flat and it looked like they were heading for their first defeat since August 18, especially after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang spurned a superb chance in the 73rd minute.

Player ratings

Arsenal: Leno (8), Bellerin (7), Holding (6), Mustafi (6), Kolasinac (6), Torreira (6), Xhaka (5), Iwobi (5), Ozil (5), Aubameyang (5), Lacazette (5)

Subs: Guendouzi (5), Ramsey (5), Mkhitaryan (6)

Wolves: Rui Patricio (6), Bennett (6), Coady (7), Boly (7), Doherty (6), Joao Moutinho (6), Neves (6), Jonny (6), Helder Costa (7), Jimenez (6), Ivan Cavaleiro (7)

Subs: Jota (5), Traore (5), Gibbs-White (5)

Man of the match: Bernd Leno

However, substitute Mkhitaryan levelled in the 86th minute with a cross that curled into the far corner and Morgan Gibbs-White ​​​​​​hit the bar for Wolves in injury-time.

While the result ends a run of three straight defeats for Wolves, they will probably feel they should have taken more from the game.

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The visitors took the lead after 13 minutes when Xhaka dummied in his own half and gave the ball away to Cavaleiro. He passed forward for Raul Jimenez, who crossed into the middle for Cavaleiro to finish.

Image: Ivan Cavaleiro scores the opening goal of the game

Alexandre Lacazette saw a close-range shot blocked in the 22nd minute, but otherwise Arsenal struggled to break down an organised Wolves defence.

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It was the visitors who looked the more likely to score next as Bernd Leno saved twice from Helder Costa and Jimenez dragged wide from around 20 yards out.

Arsenal looked off their game and even after the break they struggled to assert any extra pressure.

Image: Alexandre Lacazette battles for possession with Conor Coady

Lucas Torreira saw a dipping shot tipped over by Rui Patricio, but it took Arsenal until the 71st minute to create a clear opening as Hector Bellerin blazed over from the penalty spot.

Shortly afterwards, Aubameyang was guilty of a glaring miss as he swept a shot against the post from eight yards out.

Team news

Arsenal made one change from their draw with Liverpool last weekend as Alex Iwobi replaced Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Wolves stuck with the same XI that lost against Tottenham.

Diogo Jota was denied by Leno on the counter, before Arsenal levelled when Mkhitaryan's cross from the left went over everyone in the box and flew into the far corner.

Wolves had chances to restore their lead in injury-time but Leno saved from Adama Traore and then Gibbs-White saw a curling shot hit the bar and bounce down on the line with almost the final kick of the match.

Opta stats

  • After winning each of their first six matches against Wolves in the Premier League, Arsenal have only won one of the last three such meetings (D2).
  • Since a run of four wins in six matches in the Premier League (D2), Wolves are now winless in each of their last four games in the competition (D1 L3).
  • Arsenal, along with Cardiff, are the only two sides in the Premier League yet to be leading at half-time in any of their matches so far this season.
  • Arsenal have drawn three successive matches at home in all competitions for the first time since August 2012.
  • Henrikh Mkhitaryan has scored his first goal at home for Arsenal in the Premier League since March, when he netted against Watford.
  • Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has made five errors leading to goals since his Premier League debut, no other outfielder in the competition has made more in that time (also Simon Francis).
  • Ivan Cavaleiro's opener was the first ever time Wolves have taken the lead against Arsenal in a Premier League match, having never been in front at any point in the eight previous meetings in the competition before today.

Man of the match - Bernd Leno

Were it not for Arsenal goalkeeper Leno then Wolves would probably have won this match.

He twice denied Costa in the first half, threw himself at the feet of Jimenez to stop him shooting, and then saved from Jota and Traore late in the game.

The managers

Unai Emery: "It's not a good draw, but they deserve it because they work very well and were very competitive and organised for the transition. The first goal made it more difficult for us, but we worked and took risks in the match to try to win.

"We had chances and I think the team deserved the draw and then one moment you think we can win with risk and they also had chances. But in the 90 minutes the draw is probably how it looked on the pitch."

Unai Emery said Arsenal deserved a draw and it was probably a fair reflection of the match.

Nuno Espirito Santo: "Coming to the Emirates to play the way we played, I think we should be proud. The result is another thing that we should speak about among ourselves.

"Coming here and behaving and performing the way we do, we should be very proud. We stay humble, we came from the Championship last season so we keep our feet on the ground."

Nuno Santo says he has seen an improvement in his side's performance and is very happy with their 1-1 draw

What's next?

Arsenal travel to Bournemouth after the international break on Sunday, November 25, live on Sky Sports. They then face Vorskla Poltava in the Europa League before hosting Tottenham on Sunday, December 2, also live on Sky Sports.

Wolves host Huddersfield on Sunday, November 25 and then travel to Cardiff on Friday, November 30, with both games live on Sky Sports.

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