Premier League - Arsenal brush aside Wolves

Eurosport - Sat, 07 Nov 19:30:00 2009

Arsenal brushed aside the challenge of Wolves to move second in the Premier League with a 4-1 win at Molineux.

2009-10 Premier League Arsenal Cesc Fabregas - 0

Defensive duo Ronald Zubar and Jody Craddock contributed to the hosts' downfall with two first-half own-goals before Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin struck either side of the break to seal all three points.

Craddock made slight amends for his earlier own-goal with a late consolation for the hosts, but it was far too little too late as Wolves ended the day in the bottom three.

Victory for Arsenal saw Arsene Wenger's side move above Manchester United on goal difference and to within two points of league leaders Chelsea, who welcome the champions to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Heading into the game the Gunners had scored 32 goals in their opening 10 matches - a record for any club at this stage of the season and most in the top flight in 31 years - while playing some of the most exciting football in the country, if not Europe.

But it was far from vintage Arsenal for large parts of the game, particularly early on when Wolves made it difficult for the visitors and actually enjoyed the better of play.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake headed wide of the mark in the 10th minute before Christophe Berra wasted a glorious chance to put the hosts ahead seven minutes later, the defender making a real hash of his header from close range.

Yet despite that early pressure, Arsenal still managed to go in at the break three goals to the good.

That they did was due to a couple of costly defensive errors from Wolves that visibly left their manager Mick McCarthy fuming, plus one moment of magic that was far more representative of the Gunners' recent form.

Some terribly slack marking on a corner saw the deadlock broken on 28 minutes when the ball ricocheted over the line off Zubar's thigh under pressure from Eduardo Da Silva.

Eduardo was again involved in the second goal, eight minutes later; it was the Croatian's attempted chip that was diverted over Wayne Hennessey and into the back of the net by Craddock after Wolves had been left terribly exposed by a quick Arsenal break.

In contrast to his subdued reaction following the opener, Eduardo celebrated this time, but his effort appeared to be going wide before Craddock's intervention and he is unlikely to be able to add another notch on his boot.

But there was no doubt about the scorer of Arsenal's third, as Fabregas coolly finished off a swift passing move involving Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie in time added on at the end of the first half.

There were other glimpses during the opening period of the Arsenal who have set the Premier League alight this season, namely when Aaron Ramsey nearly finished off a glorious passing move with a header that was saved by Hennessey, but moments of real quality were rare.

And after the break, at 3-0 up and with all three points effectively in the bag, there was little need for Wenger's side to overly exert themselves further, although they had little difficulty in dominating proceedings.

Without ever hitting top gear, a fourth goal duly arrived, Arshavin latching onto Hennessey's punch clear from a corner with a first-time strike from the edge of the box that found the bottom corner.

More goals could have followed, but Hennessey foiled Eduardo soon after the fourth went in and Fabregas uncharacteristically blazed over the bar from Van Persie's cut-back nine minutes later.

With the points in the bag, Arsenal were on cruise control and the one blot on an otherwise immaculate copybook came in the final minute, when Craddock broke free of his marker to thump home a header; this time into the right net.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. lee you love good football but hate arsenal? answer is­ walk to the other side of seven sisters road in that­ white shirt stand outside the emirates take it off burn­ it then report to the armoury and ask for a bunch of­ nettles to thrash yourself with until your bare back is­ as red as our shirts then you shall be redeemed and be­ handed your true football siupporters shirt and you may­ then have the right to say you love good football.

    From Gary L, on Sun 8 Nov 9:31PM

  2. Some people do talk @#$% on here dont they lol. Arsenal­ beat wolves and that just the way it goes, They are an­ amazing side to watch with the football they play,­ Gunner for life. X

    From Amir, on Sun 8 Nov 7:42PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Arsenal lack of experience, right? not henry"s era­ anymore.. so far for the title haaha glory Man Utd

    From wan ahmad khairi, on Sun 8 Nov 1:36PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Arsenal lack of experience, right? not henry"s era­ anymore.. so far for the title haaha glory Man Utd

    From wan ahmad khairi, on Sun 8 Nov 1:36PM

  5. Hi
    Football is the number sport in the number followed­ sport in the world. I would like to thank all you­ guys(supporters) and players as well as the official­ for the job well done. Just a word of­ advice........Please NO RACISIM AND HOOLIGANISM.
    Enjoy­ soccer and love it.

    From Nkosana, on Sun 8 Nov 12:51PM

  6. Well done to the boys for keeping faith alive for us­ arsenal fans, the boys are playing really well right­ now in all competitions. I really think Cesc Fabregas­ is one of the best players in the world right now and i­ was so disappointed when he didn't make the­ shortlist for the FIFA world footballer of the year.­ Anyhow the boss Wenger has got it right this time, with­ the ecxeption of Abou Diaby i think the team has all it­ takes to win the premiership this season. ­ GUNNER 4 LIFE

    From kingsley, on Sun 8 Nov 12:48PM

  7. anfieldroad94... at Manchester, and it's back to­ stay for the title

    From Dale, on Sun 8 Nov 12:37PM

  8. scouse-Baby asked Cesc to go play with his toys.....he­ is already playing with his toys, the midfield of other­ teams.

    From Dale, on Sun 8 Nov 12:34PM

  9. WELL ARSENAL ARE A GOOD TEAM BUT THERE LUCK HAS TO RUN­ OUT SOMETIME ............

    From anfieldroad94, on Sun 8 Nov 12:29PM

  10. Gee, we'll take Essien and give you Diaby and some­ cash..lol...anyway Mikel needs to be motivated..

    From Dale, on Sun 8 Nov 12:26PM

  11. Scouse-Baby...i thought you were...never mind

    From Dale, on Sun 8 Nov 12:23PM

  12. Song is better than John Mikel Obi. He changed the­ match when he came in. In a year's time he will be­ better than Essien of Chelsea.

    Chelsea should sell the­ over-rated Mikel and go for a workaholic like Song of­ Arsenal

    From Gee, on Sun 8 Nov 12:18PM

  13. I agree with lee. the fans! waoh!!! we are so­ passionate about our dear club arsenal. people like lee­ never gave us any chance at the begining of the season­ so why will he like us afterall. we belive and we keep­ the believe with both the players and the manager. that­ said, arsenal still need to improve on late goals. we­ cant continue to give away goals at the tail end of­ matches. AZ did not have to equalise that late, westham­ as well. again late goals with AZ and another with­ wolves. that is 4 late goals in four matches. but for­ ref and OG from diaby against manu and late goals at­ westham, the story would have been alot more different.­ but with 36 goals in 11 games, who needs adebayor?­ gunnnnnnerrrs for lifeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From chima, on Sun 8 Nov 12:13PM

  14. janmcnamara137...spot on...Lee the yid...is sick of­ watching his own team...

    From Dale, on Sun 8 Nov 12:12PM

  15. Song has greately improved his game and i support the­ guy who said we will miss him should anything happen to­ him and most especially in January for African nations­ Cup.
    the rate he is going now by next year he will be­ better than Essien of Chelsea but now his is 100%­ better than John Mikel Obi who is a waste of money for­ Chelsea. Let chelsea sell Mikel and go for Song

    From Gee, on Sun 8 Nov 12:08PM

  16. well done to arsenal who are playing the best football­ in the prem if we dont win the league i sure as hell­ hope you do and not chelsea as a united fan i take my­ hat off the way the team are playing i still think you­ need players and hope wenger spends some cash in­ january in case of injuries cos thats where you fell­ down last year good luck and keep playing the way you­ do its a joy to watch

    From daz, on Sun 8 Nov 11:43AM

  17. oi lee, i think its probably jealousy rather than the­ fans... a sort of p e n i s envy.. which you probably­ suffer from as well...

    From janet, on Sun 8 Nov 11:37AM

  18. I love good football - So tell me why do I hate Arsenal­ so much? Must be the fans...

    From lee, on Sun 8 Nov 11:29AM

  19. I think we gooners have to be careful. Although Ramsey­ and Fab looked gr8 it was only after Song came on and­ did his usual quiet, professional and fantastic job as­ the holding midfielder that enabled them to do so. I­ think we could miss Song even more than Chelski will­ miss Essien. What do you think. thumbs up for yes dowm­ for no

    From basil_boots, on Sun 8 Nov 10:18AM

  20. ARSENAL IS SIMPLY THE BEST

    ITS FAN FROM CZECH

    From viktorbajer, on Sun 8 Nov 9:32AM
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