Objectives from Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard have been sufficient to see us return to the highest of the league as we claimed victory towards Wolves at Molineux.

In a recreation of few clear-cut probabilities, the Belgian struck simply earlier than the tip of the opening 45 when his miscued effort flew into the highest nook of the web to attain his 14th purpose of the marketing campaign, and the skipper received on the right track in stoppage-time to calm any Gooner nerves.

A wonderful save from David Raya that tipped a Joao Gomes shot onto the submit was our solely actual second of hazard within the recreation, and a club-record sixth successive clear sheet on our league travels ensured we received the consequence required to return to high spot and transfer on from our European exit within the week.

Woodwork rattled

The sport was simply seconds previous when Jose Sa was known as into motion when Kai Havertz hooked a volley at him, and that was one among plenty of early half alternatives we created, together with an nearly an identical pair for Declan Rice.

Each got here to him on the sting of the field 5 minutes aside, and after his preliminary sighter was side-footed straight on the keeper, he ought to have performed higher with the second probability when a greater sight of purpose arrived however as a substitute, he threaded it simply previous the submit.

Wolves regarded like a aspect struggling for confidence having been winless of their final 5 matches, together with three of the final 5 within the league, however their supporters have been those subsequent to have their heads of their fingers due to a superb David Raya save on the half-hour mark.

Joao Gomes nicked the ball off Jakub Kiwior within the left-back slot and tentatively took the ball into the field, and with few choices to select from he determined to have a crack from six yards out. His fierce shot regarded destined to hit the web, however Raya confirmed nice reactions to palm the ball onto his submit earlier than our defence scrambled the ball away.

Leandro fingers us the lead

That was a warning shot we heeded, as fortunately with a few minutes of the half to go, we discovered a approach to get ourselves in entrance. Bukayo Saka clipped the ball into the realm the place Gabriel Jesus confirmed good power to carry off Matt Doherty’s problem, and regardless of being nudged to the bottom by the defender, received up and laid the ball into Trossard’s path.

Our winger swung a leg at it and regardless of slicing awkwardly throughout it, the ball kissed the submit earlier than nestling into the highest nook handy us the lead we craved – and deserved – on the interval.

Our management over proceedings continued after the break however the probabilities dried up at first of the second half as Wolves threw our bodies at our tried pictures and saved Sa from being known as into motion, that was till Havertz once more tried his luck with a volley however from a central place he may solely discover the custodian.

That may be the one main alternative of the opening 20 minutes of the half, and with the lead nonetheless a precarious one we may barely afford to offer Wolves a sniff, however they received one when substitute Mario Lemina minimize inside and let fly however Raya was once more equal to it.

Skipper seals it

That may be the one trigger for concern as our defence held agency on their approach to a third-straight shutout at Molineux, and certainly as the sport headed in direction of its conclusion, we regarded extra prone to rating.

In stoppage-time, Saka wriggled into the realm and beat two gamers earlier than smashing a shot excessive, Rice noticed an effort from vary name Sa into motion after which the shot-stopper managed to stay up an enormous hand to disclaim Gabriel Martinelli.

However lastly the resistance broke when Havertz discovered Odegaard within the space who noticed an preliminary try blocked, after which regardless of a decent angle he squeezed the ball between Sa and the close to submit to seek out the web and guarantee his staff head again to the Premier League summit with 5 video games to go.

Details and stats

We’ve got now saved a clear sheet in every of our final six Premier League away video games. Solely Chelsea in December 2008 and Manchester United in February 2009 (each 7) have loved longer such runs within the competitors’s historical past.

We’ve got gained 11 of our 13 Premier League video games in 2024 (D1 L1), whereas we’ve opened the scoring in 25 completely different top-flight matches this time period, final doing so extra typically in 2004/05 (30).

Wolves have misplaced every of their final six Premier League video games towards us, solely towards Liverpool between January 2011 and Could 2022 (11 video games) have they suffered an extended run of successive defeats towards a aspect within the competitors.

O’Neil’s aspect have misplaced 4 of their final six Premier League video games at Molineux (W2), whereas total, they’re with no win within the competitors in 5 video games (D2 L3) – it’s their longest such run inside a single season of the competitors since November 2022 (D1 L4).

We’ve got recorded 15 clear sheets within the Premier League this season, at the very least 5 greater than another aspect, whereas it’s our most in a single marketing campaign within the competitors since 2015/16 (18).

Solely Bukayo Saka (14) has extra Premier League objectives for us this season than Leandro Trossard (9), whereas Trossard’s eight purpose involvements within the competitors towards Wolves (2 objectives, 6 assists) is greater than towards another aspect.

For the reason that begin of final season, solely Erling Haaland (27), Mohamed Salah (26) and Ollie Watkins (24) have been concerned in additional Premier League objectives away from house than Martin Odegaard (23 – 14 objectives, 9 assists). Certainly, his purpose was his fiftieth purpose involvement within the competitors (31 objectives, 19 assists).

What’s subsequent

The video games proceed to come back thick and quick as we host Chelsea in Premier League motion on Tuesday, earlier than we journey throughout north London the next Sunday for our second north London derby of the season towards Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, April 28.