Unai Emery under pressure as Arsenal held by Wolves

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:19 am

Arsenal were pegged back for the third time in six days as under-pressure Unai Emery saw his side draw 1-1 with Wolves.

A week on from drawing 2-2 against Crystal Palace having gone 2-0 up, as well as losing in the Carabao Cup on penalties to Liverpool having been 4-2 up, Emery's men were denied again.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, captain in Granit Xhaka's absence, gave Arsenal the lead on 21 minutes but Raul Jimenez equalised 15 minutes from time.

Emery's team selection was a talking point ahead of kickoff, with Xhaka omitted following his clash with Arsenal fans and Mesut Ozil returning for only his second Premier League appearance of the season.

Ozil and Arsenal started nervously, though, as Wolves begun brightly as they camped inside the hosts' half.

But it was Emery's men who took the lead against the run of play midway through the first half when Alexandre Lacazette found Aubameyang, who coolly slotted home from 12 years to put his side in front.

Wolves thought they had equalised just before half time but Matt Doherty's effort was superbly kept out by Bernd Leno in the Arsenal goal.

Leno was alert to deny Ruben Neves in the second half as Wolves pushed for the all-important equaliser but he could do nothing to deny Jimenez on 75 minutes.

Raul Jimenez struck to earn Wolves a point at Arsenal.
Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Joao Moutinho hooked over a cross and Jimenez rose highest and nodded in to crank up the pressure on Emery.

With the home fans booing briefly at the final whistle, the result left Arsenal fifth on 17 points, with Wolves 11th on 13.

"It's disappointing. I think the players tried and we scored the first goal but we needed a second for more confidence," Emery told reporters.

"Wolves are consistent in playing matches like they did today and they did that again. It was an equal match and maybe we deserved more," he added.

Wolves coach Nuno Espirito Santo thought his side could have taken all three points.

"We were good in the second half and finished the game on the front foot and we should have punished (them) because we were on top," he said.