EPL: Gunners’ top-four hopes hit another bump on the road

Arsenal’s hopes of finishing in the top-four were dealt a huge blow as Wolves savaged the Gunners at Molineux.

Unai Emery’s side travelled to Wolverhampton knowing that three points from their game in hand would see them move about Chelsea into fourth, and just a point behind third-placed Tottenham.

What they didn’t know, it would seem, was how to defend.

Despite an encouraging, possess-filed start, Arsenal fell behind just before the half-hour mark. Ruben Neves who gave the hosts the lead on 28 minutes, curling home a 20-yard free-kick, before Matt Doherty headed in Jonny’s cross to add a second in the 37th.

But Nuno Espirito Santo’s team were not done yet.

It was three on the stroke of half-time with former Atletico Madrid forward Jota capitalising on a defensive mix-up before firing past Bernd Leno from the middle of the box.

As the players trudged off the pitch, Arsenal had nothing to show for their 72 per cent possession. They had done little with it, too, having failed to record a shot on target in the opening 45.

Leno was called into action ten minutes after the restart and Emery shuffled his pack just before the hour-mark –with Sead Kolasinac and Matteo Guendouzi replacing Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Lucas Torreira respectively. 

It was a clear attempt from Emery to plug the midfield, and Wolves were – unlike the first half – kept at bay. Arsenal’s third and final change came on 71minutes, with Eddie Nketiah replacing Alex Iwobi.

Arsenal had to wait until the 80th minute for their first shot on target, but Sokratis certainly made it count, nodding home Granit Xhaka’s corner from close range.

But it proved merely a consolation for the Gunners, who stay in fifth spot with three games remaining. Two of those are away from home.