We received the 2024/25 Premier League season off to the proper begin with victory over Wolves at Emirates Stadium.

Kai Havertz received the scoring began when he nodded house a Bukayo Saka cross after 25 minutes, however the guests would trigger us some nervy moments both aspect of the break with David Raya needing to be at his greatest to maintain us in entrance.

Nevertheless Saka added a purpose to his afternoon’s work when he blasted house on the close to put up to make sure we recorded a seventh-straight win towards the Molineux aspect, and see the very good kind from the ultimate few months of final season circulation into the brand new marketing campaign.

Havertz opens account

As is custom on the opening day, the sport kicked off at a sunkissed Emirates Stadium with our Gooners stuffed with hope and perception – and our first-half efficiency solely added to that as we started as vivid because the situations the sport was performed in.

We bossed the opening levels, and peppered the Wolves purpose with a bunch of early makes an attempt. Ben White noticed a few sighters from exterior the field fizz broad, whereas Saka slipped his method round a defender to fireside low – however Jose Sa was equal to it.

Saka shot off track quickly after, as did Declan Rice moments later as the arrogance grew. Our dominance was rewarded after 25 minutes when the primary purpose of the season arrived.

Oleksandr Zinchenko did nicely to win possession in the course of the park and slipped a neat go off to Saka. He waited to choose his second to fireside in a devilish supply, and Havertz beat Sa to the ball and headed powerfully into the empty internet to get our marketing campaign off and working.

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Havertz delighted to hit the purpose path already

Wolves’ response

Nevertheless solely an outstanding piece of goalkeeping stored our lead intact 10 minutes later. Wolves received again possession in our half and Hwang Hee-Chan crossed for Jorgen Strand Larsen who headed goalwards. Simply because it regarded as if the ball would fly previous David Raya, our goalkeeper confirmed nice reactions and adaptability to claw it away.

That ensured we led on the break, and Havertz had an excellent likelihood to double our lead 4 minutes into the second half when Gabriel Martinelli teased his solution to the sting of the field and located the German contained in the field, however he couldn’t discover any curl on his try and watched it sail broad.

Thomas Partey went shut from 20 yards, however Wolves had regarded a lot stronger following the restart and the introduction of Matheus Cunha – and the guests practically discovered an equaliser when Rayan Ait-Nouri drilled simply off track from 25 yards.

That confirmed simply how fragile our benefit was and it got here below menace once more when a unfastened go by William Saliba on the sting of his personal space was seized upon by Cunha, who was denied by Raya.

Saka seals it

That save proved pivotal, as Saka scored our second of the afternoon after 74 minutes. After we acquired a free-kick simply contained in the Wolves half, Partey discovered Havertz, who in flip laid it off to Saka.

The England winger minimize inside onto his left foot and thumped the ball previous the unsighted Sa to ease the strain inside Emirates Stadium, and rating his 59th Gunners purpose – fittingly placing him stage with the late Kevin Campbell, who had been honoured pre-match within the first league sport since his passing.

The probabilities dried up within the closing levels – however Raya, final season’s Golden Glove winner, secured his first clear sheet of this marketing campaign after beating away a late Pablo Sarabia volley.

That, plus the 2 objectives and three factors meant Mikel Arteta was greater than happy at full-time, as we recorded three opening-game wins in a row for the primary time since 2010.

Info and stats

We have now received extra factors (52), extra video games (17/19) and scored extra objectives (56) than some other aspect within the Premier League in 2024.

Wolves have misplaced their opening sport in 4 consecutive league campaigns for the primary time of their historical past. They’ve additionally misplaced six of their final seven Premier League matches general (W1).

Kai Havertz has each scored and assisted in 5 completely different Premier League video games in 2024, essentially the most by an Arsenal participant in a single calendar yr since Robin van Persie in 2011 (6 instances).

We have now scored in every of our final 34 conferences with Wolves in all competitions, since a 1-0 house loss in February 1979. It’s each our longest scoring streak towards an opponent, and Wolves’ longest run with out a clear sheet towards a aspect of their respective histories.

Havertz’s opener was his thirty third Premier League purpose with solely Ilkay Gündogan (44) netting extra amongst German gamers within the competitors (Mesut Ozil additionally 33). Certainly, Havertz has been concerned in 17 objectives throughout his final 15 Premier League appearances (10 objectives, 7 assists).

By Bukayo Saka and Havertz, Arsenal had two gamers each rating and help within the opening sport of a Premier League season for the primary time. Certainly, previous to at this time, the final Arsenal participant to attain and help on MD1 was Cesc Fabregas vs Everton in 2009/10.
 

What’s subsequent

Our first away day of the season sees us head to Aston Villa subsequent Saturday for a 5.30pm kick-off. We then return to Emirates Stadium on Saturday, August 31 for a conflict towards Brighton & Hove Albion.