When Arsenal faced Wolves at the weekend, there was a clear expectation of a strong response. The aim was to demonstrate that the defeat to Aston Villa had been nothing more than a minor setback and simply a bad day at the office.
Wolves arrived at the Emirates sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table, while Arsenal were top of the standings before kick-off. On paper, it appeared to be a straightforward fixture that strongly favoured the home side.
Arsenal Fans will have no doubt gone to check out the odds on this game, believing that Arsenal will have been absolute bankers and included the Gunners in accumulators in the same way NBA fans put bankers in parlays using the attractive DraftKings odds. Confidence would have been extremely high that Mikel Arteta’s men would deliver without too much stress.
The stage seemed perfectly set for a convincing performance, and the Gunners were expected to win comfortably. Matches of this nature are generally viewed as routine, with many supporters assuming the outcome was already decided before the first whistle.
As a result, some may not have prioritised watching the match, believing it would be an easy victory. Given the contrast in league positions, such an assumption was understandable.
However, the game unfolded very differently. Arsenal required two own goals to secure a narrow 2–1 win, a result that did little to inspire confidence. Needing such fortune against the bottom side of the table was far from ideal and showed just how unpredictable the Premier League can be.
This performance raised concerns about the team’s level, particularly given the circumstances. While the points were secured, the manner of the victory left much to be desired and highlighted areas that require improvement.
Everton will present a far tougher challenge, and that fixture will offer a clearer indication of Arsenal’s current state. The performance in that match will be far more telling than the result against Wolves.
A visit to Everton is rarely an easy outing, and you can be certain that their fans will provide a hostile atmosphere and act as a 12th man for David Moyes’ men.
It is possible that Arsenal underestimated Wolves, much like many observers did. Complacency may have played a role in what was an unconvincing display.
After nearly dropping points due to such a poor performance, the expectation is that the Gunners will respond positively. Should they struggle again against Everton, serious questions will be asked, as it would be far too early in the season for such inconsistencies in a title race.
