Tag: Tolu Arokodare

An own goal deep into second-half stoppage time secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium, keeping us top of the Premier League. After a subdued first half, we came alive after the break, testing Wolves keeper Johnstone with several efforts before taking the lead on 70 minutes. Bukayo Saka’s corner hit the post and deflected off the visiting goalkeeper into the net. As the match approached full time, Wolves struck back. Tolu Arokodare’s header leveled the score, threatening a repeat of recent late collapses against Sunderland and Aston Villa. But in the 94th minute, Yerson Mosquera inadvertently redirected another Saka corner past Johnstone, securing a priceless victory and stretching our lead at the summit to five points. First Half Frustration Fans may have expected a straightforward scoring display for the league leaders against a side struggling at the foot of the table, but the opening 45 minutes were largely cagey. Our first meaningful chance saw Jurrien Timber nod over from close range, with Viktor Gyokeres arguably better positioned to test Johnstone. Wolves then broke quickly, allowing Hwang Hee-Chan a 50-yard run and shot that David Raya managed to block. In the chase, Ben White suffered a muscle injury, forcing Myles Lewis-Skelly on in the 30th minute. Gabriel Martinelli had three opportunities to break the deadlock but failed to capitalize—heading wide, seeing a shot blocked, and then poking one past the post. Despite our dominance, we entered half-time without a shot on target. Wolves, meanwhile, had a late chance of their own, only denied by a crucial Piero Hincapie sliding block. Stroke of Fortune The breakthrough finally came on 70 minutes. Saka curled a corner toward goal, which struck the far post and bounced off Johnstone into the net, ending a 46-year wait to score against Wolves under these circumstances. After taking the lead, we pressed for a second, with Martin Ødegaard, Leandro Trossard, and Mikel Merino introduced to add fresh impetus. Ødegaard forced a side-netting effort, Gyokeres’ turned shot narrowly missed, and Trossard’s close-range attempt skimmed past the post. Double Late Drama Wolves launched a late fightback, and in the 90th minute, Matheus Mane’s cross found Arokodare, whose header beat Raya to level the score. Just when it seemed we might drop points again, Saka’s corner in the 94th minute caused chaos in the box. Gabriel Jesus pressured Mosquera, whose deflection found the net, sending the Emirates into euphoria and securing a vital three points. The win kept us atop the table and marked another thrilling example of our resilience in the dying moments of games.