Arsenal stun Wolves to keep Champions League dream alive

Bukayo Saka’s first league goal and a late Alexandre Lacazette strike gave Arsenal a 2-0 win at Wolves on Saturday afternoon.

Arsenal needed a win to maintain an unlikely challenge for a Champions League place, while Wolves could have theoretically moved into fourth with a gigantic win.

However Arsenal, with youngsters Eddie Nketiah and Saka - fresh from signing a new contract to stay with the club - were the most threatening players on the pitch in the first half, with the 18-year-old forward volleying his side ahead just before the end of the period.

In the second half, Nuno Espirito Santo brought on Diogo Jota and he teed up Adama Traore for an excellent chance he could only chip over the bar.

Lacazette then scored late on to give Mikel Arteta’s side an easy win that will do plenty to aid their fragile confidence. Two wins in their next games, against Leicester and then Spurs, could transform their season.

The French striker was on the bench again, and Eddie Nketiah and Bakayo Saka showed enough threat to win the game for Arsenal. The club are still keen to keep Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang so perhaps they are willing to sacrifice Lacazette to raise funds for a new contract. His goal showed that he will not be easy to replace.

The game was low on quality, but the Portugues goalkeeper was perhaps the standout performer. A couple of excellent saves kept his side in contention for at least a point until Arsenal’s late second.

Arsenal: Martinez 6, Mustafi 6, Luiz 6, Kolasinac 6, Soares 6, Ceballos 6, Xhaka 6, Tierney 6, Aubameyang 7, Nketiah 7, Saka 7. Subs: Bellerin 6, Maitland-Niles 6, Torreira 6, Willock 6, Lacazette 7.

Wolves: Patricio 7, Saiss 6, Coady 6, Boly 5, Otto 6, Doherty 5, Neves 5, Moutinho 6, Dendoncker 6, Jimenez 6, Traore 6. Subs: Neto 6, Gibbs-White 6, Jota 6.

26’ - AUBAMEYANG CHANCE - Jimenez flicks on the corner, Saiss stoops and heads it wanly to Aubameyang, and he angles his body to volley at goal that Patricio saves smartly.

33’ - JONNY SHOT - Jonny receives a ball in the box that Boly flicks on, and he scuffs a shot just wide of the far post.

34’ - PATRICIO SAVE - Xhaka's pass is deflected off Moutinho, setting up Nketiah to slam a shot low at the near post, but Patricio sticks out a leg, forcing the ball onto the post and away

43’ - GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Arsenal. Saka scores - The teenager celebrates his new contract by receiving Tierney's deflected cross, hooking it past Patricio with a well-taken volley.

64’ - TRAORE MISS - Jota turns the ball around the corner for Traore to run onto, and with Martinez rushing out, the forward chips the ball over the 'keeper and agonisingly high over the bar.

86’ - GOAL! Wolves 0-2 Arsenal. Lacazette scores - Lacazette finds Willock on the right, he sends a cross to the near post that the striker claims and then squeezes home.