Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
Subs: Neto, Porter, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Tierney, Calafiori, Jorginho, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji
Ten-man Arsenal reduced the gap between them and Liverpool remained at six points, after beating Wolves 1-0 at Molineux on Saturday. Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off in the first half, but an impressive second half strike from Riccardo Calafiori secured all three points.
Mikel Arteta made five changes to the side that beat Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday with William Saliba and Lewis-Skelly both shaking off knocks to start, alongside Thomas Partey, Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard.
However, Martin Odegaard (illness) and Mikel Merino (knock) both missed out on the matchday squad, meaning Arsenal’s bench featured two goalkeepers and four left-backs.
After an even start, the first chance of the match fell to Wolves after they broke down the right side through Nelson Semedo who before floating a cross to the back post, where Pablo Sarabia volleyed over the bar unmarked.
It was an early warning sign for the Gunners who started quite slowly, with Wolves pressing high and looking to break quickly in transition.
Just before the 20 minute mark, Arsenal had their first sight of goal when they worked the ball nicely to Trossard on the left hand side, whose looping cross was headed just wide by Kai Havertz. It was a difficult chance although you would hope he could at least test the goalkeeper from that area.
His next chance, however, should have resulted in a goal. Nwaneri did well to find Rice in space, who released Trossard down the left before curling in a beautiful cross for Havertz – but the German could only head straight at Jose Sa with the goal at his mercy.
Heading towards the break, there was an excellent chance for Arsenal after Rice was fouled on the edge of the box but after minutes of deliberation, Nwaneri could only find the wall with his free kick and the attack fizzled out.
Unfortunately for the visitors, this game would change entirely in the 43rd minute after Lewis-Skelly was shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver. After a corner broke on the edge of the box, Matt Doherty was quickest to the ball before the 18-year-old tripped the Wolves defender and Oliver showed no hesitation in sending him off.
Doherty was 85 yards from the Arsenal goal (with two red shirts also retreating) so it can’t have been for denying a goalscoring opportunity. It was later confirmed that Lewis-Skelly was shown red for violent conduct by the official Premier League match centre. RED CARD.
The red shirts displayed their obvious confusion in surrounding the referee, but once again this was red card given to Arsenal that you won’t see again this season. It happens all too often.
Arteta needed to change things at half time and introduced Riccardo Calafiori for Nwaneri who was the easiest player to sacrifice.
Despite being a man down, Arsenal started the second half well and were putting Wolves under more and more pressure, with Rice stinging the palms of Jose Sa following another high turnover.
With half an hour to play, the game burst into life and Havertz had another good headed opportunity which was put over the crossbar, before David Raya did well to save Matheus Cunha’s deflected effort from the edge of the box.
From the resulting corner, Cunha bobbled another effort just wide after the ball dropped kindly into his path.
With 20 minutes to play, the game would be levelled up after Joao Gomes was sent off for Wolves after a horror challenge on Jurrien Timber. It was his second yellow of the match but the Brazilian could easily have been shown a straight red for slamming his studs straight down on the Dutchman’s ankle. RED CARD.
That gave the Gunners – who were flagging physically – an obvious wind in their sails and after some pressure in the Wolves half, found the breakthrough through Riccardo Calafiori.
Martinelli did well to cut inside and float a dangerous cross to the back post which was headed clear, only for Calafiori to run onto the ball and strike a clinical half volley into the bottom corner. 1-0.
From that point forward, it was all about managing the game and with the minutes ticking towards full time, Rice was somehow able to find energy in his legs to start bossing the midfield battle.
Raya was called into action again to save from Rayan Ait-Nouri who got in behind the Arsenal defence, before Cunha struck another shot from distance but the Spaniard was equal to the task once again.
Arteta brought Kieran Tierney on for Martinelli late on and some long distance shots aside, Wolves created very little and every cross was dealt with by Saliba and Gabriel respectively.
It was a huge win and moment for Arsenal who showed incredible resolve to not only take the lead, but see things through despite another bizarre refereeing decision. With the squad clearly running on empty – there is always fight.
Phew, both referees and injuries could have done us in, but three points! Well done to our Arsenal players!!!
thoughts and prayers for the Wolves player who was subject to serious foul play. Lets pray the player makes a swift recovery and does not suffer from PTSD
The innocuous trip that shook the world
Please let me know if there is a gofundme page. That player needs all the support he can get.
How will he survive the championship next season?
I love Martinelli and so wanted him to succeed. I know goal came from his cross but that would be scraping the barrel. His performance today was shocking.
Really? You’re singling out Martinelli?? Dude had a solid game from what I saw…
No he didn’t. I love the kid but he was awful today.
I luv Martinelli but I have to admit I was rather frustrated with him today he made that defender look world class and I sure he is not… but I put it down to mental fatigue but he was the only outlet we had for a counter
The Martinelli bias is so strong. He did close to nothing all game. Don’t think he knows how to tackle. Seemed totally fine not winning a duel all day. That being said, great 3 points!
Martinelli is a great player.
I always post this and get down votes. You would think it was a spurs board
I don’t think there is a bias. It is a simple case that he has so good 2 seasons ago that most people compare his to those standards and clearly he is some way off it.
What? No one was awful today, everyone was a hero: we fought brilliantly and we won. Why moan about the team on a day like this?
Cause moaners gonna moan.
He needs to play n the right. On the left he is half of player
vice versa of course….fuck me
I had hoped he was turning the corner after some pretty good recent performances
I know it’s not original but definitely a case of “Should have gone to Specsavers” – that’s if I’m being PC.
Fuck sake
We won after the refs once again tried to fuck us, and you want to focus your energy on shitting on one of our players. Why?
We have had to deal with a lot of adversity this season (horrible, HORRIBLE decision against us, injuries, timing of the injuries, sickness etc.) but hats off to Mikel and the boys for still FIGHTING for one another and covering for injured mates. This team truly deserves to hoist a trophy soon.
Absolutely, the stones on this team are monumental. It’s not that long ago that we’d fold in a situation like this but we’re made of stern stuff.
First off, fuck pgmol, the media, the cunty pundits and putrid hatred against us. Its clear why we are not going to win the title and it’s not due to ability.
To be fair, ALL the pundits on BBC five live were calling that decision utter dogshit. Saying that the VAR (Darren England?) badly let the referee, the game, and the title race down by not helping out the referee and advising him to review the decision on the monitor.
The NBC half-time commentator (Robbie Mustoe) said it was perhaps the worst decision he had seen all season. Just a trip.
All that matters is that this team keep winning in face of fools like referees, opposition player that play to kill.
Well done boys.
At what point do we refuse to play with Oliver as ref?
We could produce a dossier with video clips to prove he is a corrupt fuck.
He and his cohorts have cost us 10 points this season so far (I reckon)….enough is enough
I’ve just watched it again trying to look at it objectively
It really is an inexplicable decision. Fuck you Oliver
The added insult and even more infuriating part to me is refusing to show a straight red for two identical challenges against us later in the game. It’s pointed, it’s clearly done with malice, and I feel like my head is going to explode trying to understand how this is allowed to continue. I will gladly fly out to join protests
He’s a corrupt official. 200k for an exhibition match in Dubai from City owner. Panorama should investigate the cunt. PGMOL are not fit for purpose
Now that is a really fucking satisfying 3 points.
F-ck off Michael Oliver
Such a massive cvnt he is.
After the UCL game on Wednesday, someone tweeted about our (impressive) defensive stat in the UCL… An Arsenal fan replied with something along these lines:
“What you get when 15 bald cvnts from Manchester are not trying to screw us.”
Sounded like excuses… Only for that bellend to go and prove him today. The PGMOL needs an overhaul. But as long as they have sky, pundits, and the media in their pocket nothing will change. Sad.
PGMOL need to go. Your referees are not up to scratch and you completely fucked the whole implementation of VAR. I don’t believe that there is a conspiracy. I don’t believe they are corrupt. They are just so, so incompetent. Oliver could not wait to show MLS a red, so wracked is he (and all of them) with unconscious bias and narrative. Then there’s VAR who intervene on a whim from one week to the next. I mean fuck me, how was MLS a straight red and the wolves players a yellow?? This season has been unforgivable. It’s actually ruining… Read more »
I have thumbed you down for saying you don’t believe they are corrupt – clearly they are
Corruption, bud.
There is evidence in the public domain which proves incompetence. Corruption can’t be proved on current evidence. Media not interested in the incompetence. PGMOL is not fit for purpose.
Incompetence would be evenly spread. They seem to be able to pick and choose when they’re “incompetent” and reserve it for making these decisions against us.
If you don’t believe the PL is bent, you’re blind. It’s more than obvious now and Arsenal need to call it out, backed by the evidence going back years. You only have to think back to the assault by an Everton player when he stamped on an Arsenal player’s face while on the ground, yet didn’t even get a yellow!
https://sports.yahoo.com/arsenal-vs-wolves-michael-oliver-120100123.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALve3sDKGrVEpOFxUI7ocf-JzXd4ZmuhNOHDd4lzPsRUNVbZlzcUlrFkCl0cAJP6H_YcUhduT4aIGDr2Pu0enF6_BUWpZ8x-1M6AFtCgDFD1V2o_vmwxgfVgFU-sPFdXRpiqClFSOCGuC68qsrDkZ957UIk8liN5SLGL-67GexEW
This was Yahoo sports take on Michael Oliver BEFORE the game – how true it turned out. Oliver has given AFC 8 reds now, Liverpool 1, Citeh 0.
The question over bias is serious and needs to be answered.
Kudos to this news outlet for bringing out the obvious, and calling Oliver a corrupt.
Hats off to every single one of those away fans — you were brilliant.
Fvck Oliver and his smug face, still btw!
I hope the refs have a “non-refundable” clause in their bung deals
The money was paid to soften us up pre-City next week. Mission accomplished
Discipline discipline discipline
In a tsunami of terrible refereeing again by mr uae
Brafuckingvo lads
Brafuckingvo
Yes, the media will merely refer to poor discipline by Arsenal once the discussion has died down and it becomes just another stat.
Michael Oliver 0 Arsenal 1
F**k off, you c**t!
That’s more like it fats
One of us, one of us!
Well said big boy!
Oliver should be trialled in The Hague
Instead he’ll find a place on Trump’s cabinet…
On the cabinet hopefully with a lamp stand up his arse.
😀
Proud of the team, Michael Oliver in f*cking c*nt
PS: thank god Joao Gomes was already on a yellow.
ps.: Gomes’ foul was a straight red example, but the crooked ref pulled a yellow.
The gymnastics that will be pulled to explain this all away would put Simone Biles to shame
Hell, he should have already been off for kicking a dead ball away. Oh right, the letter of the law only applies to Arsenal.
Oliver just couldn’t wait to get that red out. Fucking tugger that he is. Such a big result considering. Happy weekend everybody xx
Kinda reminded me of the Xhaka trip that got a red card. Only happens to us
Rico, Rico, Rico.
Up yours Oliver you Corrupt shit. He should have been sent just after half time for the same reason you screwed us earlier in the season. Then a yellow for a much worse tackle than MLS got a red for.
Great response from the team after going down to 10 men.
Great 3 points.
Fuck you Michael Oliver/PGMOL. For the other reds we’ve had this season, it’s the lack of consistency that I was really frustrated about, but I think in isolation they were probably actually the correct calls. But this one was an absolute joke. MLS’ challenge is one that happens multiple times every week, and just isn’t a red card. I don’t see how any rational person can look at that and not think there’s not bias at play (not mentioning Gomes kicking the ball away on a yellow and nothing – same ref as Trossard). Anyway, well done lads – even… Read more »
No. Every one of our four red cards this season have been extremely harsh, totally unprecedented and since predictably unrepeated for other teams.
Looking at the reds we’ve received previously in isolation they were all a complete farce.
Come on fellas, if the Saliba one happens against us you’re both screaming for a red. That sort of thing isn’t totally unprecedented, but it’s bullshit that VAR decided a far worse one for Spurs the same weekend was fine. Again, it’s the consistency.
Saliba’s was borderline, but since the referee initially gave yellow and it was on the halfway line with potential cover arriving it wasn’t a clear and obvious error. VAR had no business intervening to make it red. The other two, Rice and Trossard, were just insane. Touching a ball away and playing a pass should never be cause to send a player off.
My reason for saying they were the right call in isolation is that I was of the understanding that there’d been some narrative relayed to clubs before the season that delaying the restart would be a yellow card? However, that goes out of the window when the same offence in the same game is waved away. Look, regardless of all this, these events weren’t in isolation and we’ve been royally screwed over by referees this season, with today being the cherry on the top, to the extent other fans and pundits are in equal disbelief. I’m not saying refs are… Read more »
Never seen a red card for that in all my years. The refs in this league are atrocious.
I seem to remember Xhaka getting a similarly ridiculous one for a trip, could have been Oliver then too
I thought it was the fellow that looks like a barrel.
Jon Moss?
Yep, Barrel Man Moss it was, against Swansea just found it on YouTube. Also a shameful decision.
It’s not just the ridiculous decision that gets me, it’s the 2-second VAR check. Surely, surely someone is looking at that and thinking “yeah this is nothing”. On Sky Sports Mike Dean was saying “I’ve got a still image that shows studs on his ankle” but just look in real time at the angle his foot comes in at and there’s no way that’s ever a red, let alone a clear enough red to be sure in 2 seconds. I’m the last person to suggest it’s a conspiracy but that is bizarre how it’s the second time Oliver has given… Read more »
I veering towards the conspiracy side. We’re being gaslighted also so if we say there’s genuine corruption going on we’re just crying Arsenal fans. No other club is putting up with that shit.
Gaslighting is exactly what I was thinking. A bit of solidarity amongst all fans would be good but people just love a narrative, so moaning Arsenal fans it is.
Everyone knows deep down that if that is their team then they’re furious.
I find it really hard to believe that there is a narrative against us, but the evidence does seem to suggest there is. The Saliba “penalty” against Brighton ? I have been watching football since 1970, and have never, ever, seen this given as a penalty.
Michael Oliver also sent off Martinelli, 3 years ago, 2 yellows in 4 seconds. The week before Oliver sent off Trossard at Man City, a Liverpool hoofed the ball away whilst on a yellow card, no action taken. There are a few more occasions, when he has shown bias against us, but you get the point..
I wholeheartedly agree, fellow chippy 😀
Isn’t that the third one of a kind decision he’s given against us? Today, City earlier this season and the ridiculous two cards in 5 seconds for Martinelli?
Don’t forget tomi getting a red for time wasting
Of course VAR confirmed it in a sec. It was Daren England as VAR.
There is no greater scumbag of a refferee than Michael tiny penis Oliver.
So tiny. This is a fact. Tell everyone
It’s important to remember here though, that Mike Dean is a cretin and a c*nt
Always has been, always will be.
Oliver collects the referees’ pay from the middle east to distribute, you don’t go against the one holding the purse strings!
As George Carlin said, It doesn’t need to be a conspiracy if the interests align. If all of us were referees – even if we never once made a plan together – do you think Arsenal would get as many red cards as City? People see what they want to see. This group of referees hate Arsenal, and take every opportunity to make our lives difficult. The evidence is overwhelming at this point.
I think the best thing we could do in the transfer window is buy a non biased ref:)
Return Radio Raheem and loan one with the option?
According to available data, referee Michael Oliver has issued the most red cards to Arsenal players, totaling seven as of September 2024. The team with the second-highest number of red cards under his officiating is Everton, with three red cards. 
I’m not into conspiracies but that really is a big discrepancy.
Plus this one, and we’re far from a dirty team. This needs to be sent to all the media and pundits, with reminders of what the cards were for. Decisions and cards that have never been seen before and won’t be seen again. PGMOL is totally corrupt, hiding under a guise of incompetence, and every time you think that maybe they’ve settled down a bit they come up with another bullshit stunt like this. VAR is just mates looking after mates, and that Sky TV show when they discuss the referee decisions is just vomit inducing, they tie themselves in… Read more »
Still fuming about the MLS red card. The Wolves red does not absolve him at all! Nonsense!!
It was a ridiculous red card for MLS.
if a trip is a violent conduct straight red, very few game should end with 22 players on the pitch except it is another one that will only ever be awarded against an Arsenal player.
Despite that it was an amazing performance from a (justifiably) exhausted set on Arsenal players.
If we are to honestly take that as an honest mistake. (It was not). Then he has not got the level of competence to referee at any level let alone the premier league. He should not be allowed to official another of our games. 8 reds now. All wrong and that is being kind. All bent. As a club we should take legal action against him to pay damages over what this has cost us financially (millions) and whilst we take this action he cannot referee against us. This should prevent refs from taking thousands for ‘exhibition’ games in the… Read more »
Oliver has reffed Liverpool 57 times. Given them res once. Arsenal he’s given 8 reds in 55 games. Of course refs have biases. The job of the PGMOL is to not select them for those teams. Oliver is as good as most (not a high bar tbf). I’m sure him reffing Brighton versus Everton would be just fine.
heroic!
Oliver is a c*nt of a referee.. that incl PGMOL too. Thank u calafiori… We needed that 3 points..
And finally… some serious reinforcement needed esp on the wings. Martinelli, despite his lead up to the goal, his all round game play was poor. Whenever he got the ball, 50% of the chance he will lose it.
I watched 2 tackles by Wolves that should have been straight reds. Cleats up right on top of the ankle. Timber is lucky to be walking. How is a trip violent conduct?!?!
It has to rescinded right?
*be
Honestly, you couldn’t make it up. Three very similar moments officiated with the different decisions. Skelly’s stepped on someone’s players ankle… red card. Gomes steps on someone’s ankle… second yellow card. Third Wolves players steps on someone’s ankle… no card. The inconsistency in decisions is wild.
A great display, it is great to see we still have some fight in us left.
What I don’t understand though is Arteta’s stubborn unwillingness to use more subs. Why do we even have Sterling or Butler-Oyedeji in the squad when we are not going to use them, even when playing with 10 men, to bring some fresh legs?
Your kidding right?
Satire?
I semi defending PGMOL after the Villa game but not again. What sort of clown decision was that red.? I want to see Michael Oliver in front of cameras explaining it. Jokers…
They’ve released audio of Mike Dean saying ‘studs on ankle’ (I paraphrase). That’s the justification. They aren’t worried about that as there isn’t really anyone to whom they are accountable.
No Mike Dean actually said studs down Achilles
Wow
I want to see him dragged through North London with sh@t pelted at him whilst we all chant ‘shame’… ‘shame’’..
Fvck Michel Oliver and the PGMOL.
The aforementioned crooked should be banned to officiate Arsenal’s games, so many ‘questionable’ decisions…it’s bizarre.
You say bizarre. I say paid off.
I’ve just seen and heard Mike Dean justify the red card by saying he can understand it as studs went down on the ankle. I have just seen it and no such thing happened. How can a Premier League referee not say what you see. It’s worrying.
It’s gaslighting, plain and simple.
It’s called gaslighting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__6TbDEulKI
What a ridiculous red. Well done boys.
I enjoy the win & enjoyed the fight we showed However ??? PGMOL referees with two in particular have to be looked at ! Oliver’s decision today was a disgrace to football fans everywhere Yes MLS was a bit naughty (professional) but no way would that decision be made against City, Liverpool, Man Utd !!! Oliver’s Dad a corrupt (allegedly ?) Northumberland FA official would be smiling today !! The cheating ba**ard !!!
Just an absolutely shocking red card decision. That ref should be thrown out the game. Good that we battled back but it wasn’t pretty, even before we went to 10 men. Come on Stan, open the fkn coffers!
It’s as clear as the nose on my face, that we are being victimized here. I have run MLS challenge side by side with Gomes. One could have ended a career, the other was made by MLS. Disgusting decisions from an obviously corrupt referee and association.
I made a decision early in the season that I could’t justify giving up my time every weekend to watch football matches that are so evidently corrupt, just seeing the ref’s face at the beginning of every match would stress me out a bit. So now I follow on Arseblog live (thank you Andrew!) as I get on with important personal things in my life at the same time. CL games are an entirely different kettle of fish. I can say that my enjoyment following Arsenal has increased a lot with this decision, no more watching refs do their best… Read more »
I decided today to give-up my sky sports subscription. I will continue to go to games when I can but I can’t justify paying money to those clowns and their support for the clowns at PGMOL
Michael Oliver is killing us, but it’s Howard Webb that’s the problem. Quality of refereeing is so poor – it’s a relief when we get proper refs in the Champions League.
Police should investigate Oliver if his bosses won’t. What he is doing needs investigation. Corruption has serious consequences involving money and peoples’ livelihoods.
I’ll be honest, I’ve not been loving this team as much this season. But at the start of that second half it all came back. That pure adrenaline that Reiss Nelson gave me was back.
Delighted with the fn win, this team proved they care
Michael Oliver is ginormous c*nt. Well done Arsenal.
Brave MA and the boys. Fuck Oliver and PGMOL
Proud of the boys.
That fucking cunt Mike Oliver once again did everything he could to wound us – but we stayed strong and were rewarded for our efforts.
Liverpool, for all their goals against Ipswich this afternoon, will still be pissed off that we won.
Every time we win, we piss a LOT of cunts off – so let’s enjoy these victories.
COYG
10-man Arsenal defeat 12-man Wolves.
It’s an away game so 10 vs 13 and we WON.
Go Gunners!
Refs have done us in. They’ve cost us points and they’ve forced our players to play short handed for extended periods. The latter has no doubt cost us injuries, which have also cost us points.
How about the time Kovacic crunched Odeg’s ankle only for Oliver to show a yellow (and VAR somehow doesn’t recommend the upgrade). Then Kovacic fouls Rice five minutes later and doesn’t give the clear second yellow.
The double yellow to Martinelli within, what, 10-20s?
This guy is fucking wild.
The guy is a fucking cheat
I think next time tosser Oliver referees an arsenal match the fans in the stadium need to get on his case, any decision that goes against us chant “corrupt corrupt Oliver’s corrupt” and “he’s in Saudi pockets, Saudi pockets, Oliver is in Saudi pockets” – imagine that ringing out at the stadium for all to hear on the TV and beyond 🎉
He deserves dogs abuse.
Let’s hope the Gooners give it to him.
Do you know what your dead right… it being clearly audible on sky sports being bellowed out by 60 thousand people might go some way to countering the gaslighting
Thank you 👍 I just think it needs something or someone to really bring it to the fore 👍
As a club we should not allow him in our stadium and let the league work out why and what to do about it.
Oliver is a corrupt c@nt and he can get to F&ck. cheating piece of sh!t. I want him nowhere near us anymore. How do we make that happen?
It needs men with balls to corner him and have a quiet word before he officiates us. Like MPs, he is a coward and only acts the way he does as he feels invincible.