Wolves 1 Arsenal 4: Gunners on a roll as Mick's men add to own downfall

07 November 2009 22:18
Don't believe the hype. The result may have matched pre-match predictions and moved Arsenal into second place while leaving Wolves in the bottom three, but the winners were nothing like as good as the scoreline suggested, nor the losers anything like as bad.[LNB] It took own goals by Ronald Zubar and Jody Craddock, both blameless after being let down by colleagues, to set Arsenal on their way after Wolves had taken the game to their lacklustre guests. [LNB]A brilliant third by Cesc Fabregas in first half stoppage time was the only glimpse of the brilliance Arsene Wenger's team had displayed in previous weeks, but it was more than enough to make the second half akin to a training exercise in which Andrey Arshavin gave Wolves one more kick in the teeth. [LNB] Behind you: Wolves defender Ronald Zubar scores an own goal[LNB]It is hard to say whether Chelsea and Manchester United should beworried by Arsenal's ability to win by such a margin without playingwell or encouraged by signs of brittleness in Wenger's ranks. [LNB]ButCraddock's late consolation, a free header from a corner, was theresult of the lack of concentration which will cost Arsenal againststronger opponents. [LNB]Zubar's own goal came against the run of play andafter what must have been Arsenal's least impressive half hour or so ofthe season so far. [LNB]Wenger chose to break up the midfield triumviratewhich has served him so well, dropping Alexandre Song to the bench andasking Aaron Ramsey, 18, to anchor the team.[LNB]But they were distinctlyaverage from back to front, and by the time Song had to be brought onfor the injured Abou Diaby, Wolves should have been two up.[LNB] MercurialSerb Nenad Milijas, restored to Mick McCarthy's starting line-up,caused problems from almost every set-piece with his precisionmountedleft foot and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake should have hit the target with aheader from a 10th-minute corner. [LNB] Absolutely Fabregas: Arsenal captain celebrates after scoring his side's third goal[LNB]Then a Milijas free-kick foundChristophe Berra unmarked six yards out but the centre back headed theball sideways. [LNB]Without creating much from open play, Wolves had beenmuch the better team but soon found themselves undeservedly behind.[LNB]Fabregas's corner was nothing special, but home goalkeeper WayneHennessey performed a strange star jump and palmed the ball on to thethigh of Zubar - and in. [LNB]Collective incompetence caused the second goaleight minutes later. Arsenal broke up play in the middle of their ownhalf and Ramsey and Eduardo began charging towards goal with onlyCraddock to beat.[LNB] The pair seemed to have fouled up a goldenopportunity, but Eduardo's chip, which seemed to be going wide, brushedCraddock's head and nestled inside the near post.[LNB] Midfield dynamo: Wolves' Segundo Castillo battles for the ball with Cesc Fabregas[LNB]Unable to believetheir luck, Arsenal then finally unveiled one of their party pieces,with Fabregas starting and finishing an exquisite move involving BacarySagna and Robin van Persie, and Wolves were three down. [LNB]McCarthy couldhave talked for hours and not been able to account for the combinationof bad luck and ineptitude which had undone his team. Even the greatestorator would have found it impossible to convince the home players theywere still in the game and there was gallows humour from their fans inthe Jack Harris Stand, who heralded the restart with a chorus of 'We'regonna win 4-3'. [LNB]Everyone knew there was no chance of that. Wolves triedto force the game but rarely looked like scoring. McCarthy threw onMichael Kightly for Segundo Castillo, but it was Arsenal who scoredagain. [LNB]Andrey Arshavin had the first shot on goal of the half, forcingHennessey into a decent save at the near post, and from the resultingcorner, the little Russian found the bottom corner with a shot througha crowd of players. [LNB]Craddock's late goal at the right end was cheeredlike a last-gasp winner by the home fans, who will be hopeful theirside will not be in the same position come May - and unconvinced thatArsenal will be above everyone at the other end of the table.[LNB]Thenewly-promoted team were bright and lively until the 28th minute whenthey were undone by their own hand.  [LNB] Arsene Wenger boosts Manuel Almunia, but Arsenal boss has eyes on Lyon's Hugo LlorisWolves boss Mick McCarthy vows to attack in-form Arsenal Wolves v Arsenal: The action as it happenedARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail