LATE MOSQUERA OWN-GOAL SENDS ARSENAL FIVE POINTS CLEAR
Arsenal needed two own-goals, including one in stoppage time, to beat winless Wolves 2-1 at the Emirates and move five points clear in the Premier League.
The Gunners entered the match as heavy favourites, with several key players returning from injury and illness to bolster the squad.
However, Wolves showed more fight than many expected of a team who have just two points, as their dogged defence restricted Arsenal to half-chances and set-pieces for much of the first half.
As frustrating as the half was for Arsenal, the biggest blow was perhaps the injury to Ben White, who pulled his hamstring half an hour in chasing Hwang Hee Chan.
Mikel Arteta rang the changes at the start of the second period, and started to test Sam Johnstone, who only made his first save in the 66th minute.
But The Gunners got the breakthrough with 20 minutes remaining, when Bukayo Saka’s inswinging corner ricocheted off the far post, before hitting Johnstone’s back on its way in.
Wolves may have been ruing the unfortunate goal, but got more possession as the match entered stoppage time and grabbed a shock equaliser when Tolu Arokodare flicked on fellow substitute Mateus Mane’s cross past David Raya to level the match.
Just as Rob Edwards thought he had earned his first point as Wolves manager, Mosquera got the last touch on Saka’s late cross to sink the away end’s hearts.
Victory moved Arsenal five points clear at the top, but both Manchester City and Aston Villa can close the gap when they play on Sunday.
Wolves remain 13 points adrift of safety and are in serious danger of beating Derby County’s record of fewest points in a Premier League season.
