- Bendtner (90)
- Date:2010-04-03
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Emirates Stadium
- Attendance:60067
- Referee:Marriner, A
Live Commentary
90mins
It is full time at the Emirates
90mins
Arsenal score at the death of the game through Bendtner, who heads the ball into the back of the net
90mins
There are 5 minutes of added time to play
88mins
Denilson shoots towards goal but his attempt goes wide of the target and fails to trouble Hahnemann
86mins
The ball is sent across the face of goal with some pace from Walcott but it is collected by Hahnemann
85mins
Vermaelen is now playing up front for Arsenal, who are really pushing for a goal in these final few minutes
83mins
Ward produces a brilliant block on a strike on goal from Nasri
82mins
Stephen Ward comes on to replace Jarvis
81mins
Nasri delivers the ball into the box but Berra heads away strongly for Wolves
78mins
Carlos Alberto Vela comes on for Eduardo
78mins
Walcott breaks forward and it looks like Arsenal are finally going to open the scoring but he's chopped down on the edge of the box by Mancienne, who picks up a yellow card
78mins
Jarvis sprints down the right and pulls the ball back in a dangerous position but Campbell clears for a corner. Jarvis takes the corner and Rosicky clears the ball off the line after it deflected off Campbell
77mins
Rosicky's shot is caught well by Hahnemann after brilliant build-up play from Walcott and Nasri
76mins
A weak header from Silvestre goes just wide of the target
75mins
Walcott is challenged brilliantly by Elokobi, who passes to Keogh after thinking twice about bombing forward himself
72mins
Nasri picks out Vermaelen, whose cross is blocked well by Mancienne. From the resulting Arsenal throw, Hahnemann collects the ball fairly easily from a Bendtner header
70mins
Samir Nasri comes on for Song
68mins
Andy Keogh comes on for Doyle
68mins
David Edwards comes on for Jones
68mins
That sending off could be a turning point in this game. Wolves were finding it difficult enough to cope with Arsenal with 11 players on the pitch
68mins
Rosicky fires an effort towards goal but Hahnemann pushes the ball out of play for a corner
65mins
Henry lunges in on Rosicky and the Arsenal players are incensed at that challenge. The referee brandishes a red card and Henry leaves the field
63mins
Nicklas Bendtner comes on for Eboue
63mins
Jarvis picks up a needless booking for a shirt tug
63mins
Jones steps up to take the free kick and it goes straight into the arms of Almunia
62mins
Wolves win a free kick 20 yards from goal
60mins
Jarvis delivers a brilliant cross from the right but it is cleared by Sol Campbell. His next attempt from the right also impresses but there's nobody there to meet it for Wolves. This is much better play from Wolves
58mins
Rosicky shoots towards goal but it's an easy save for the Wolves keeper in the end
55mins
Eduardo fouls Henry and Wolves have a free kick and a chance to keep possession for a while
53mins
Eduardo volleys the ball wide of the target. Decent chance for the striker but he was always stretching for the ball there
52mins
Arsenal are really piling on the pressure at the moment and Wolves are struggling just like they were at the start of the first half
50mins
Walcott sends another stinging cross into the box but there is nobody there to meet it. Seconds later, Song drives an effort wide of the target
49mins
Walcott sends the ball across the box but the ball bounces off the chest of Silvestre, who has been a real attacking threat this afternoon, and goes out of play
47mins
Silvestre flashes the ball across the face of goal but it goes all the way through to Rosicky on the other side of the box before Wolves can clear
47mins
Walcott tries to deliver the ball into the box but it is blocked by Elokobi and Arsenal win a corner on the right. Wolves clear well through Doyle
45mins
The second half is underway
45mins
It is half time at the Emirates Stadium
45mins
Song turns a lovely ball out to the wing to Eboue, who makes a mess of his cross and sends the ball straight to Hahnemann
44mins
Wolves are the team in ascendancy at the moment as the half draws to a close, with Foley and Mancienne looking lively
42mins
Walcott goes to ground in apparent agony under a challenge from Henry but the referee doesn't give a foul and the Arsenal man eventually picks himself up a bit gingerly
39mins
Eboue tries to turn inside Ronald Zubar but he ends up fouling the Wolves man and the away side can enjoy another longer spell of possession. This is much better from Wolves
37mins
Silvestre sends an attempt straight into the arms of Hahnemann from 12 yards out. Good effort from the defender on his weaker side
36mins
Mikael Silvestre delivers a decent ball into the box but Jody Craddock is able to head clear and set up a Wolves attack through Jarvis and Kevin Foley
34mins
After more brilliant attacking play from Walcott, Rosicky backheels the ball to Pereira Neves Denilson, who shoots wide of the target
32mins
Rosicky's attempt at goal flies over the crossbar. Wolves won't be too unhappy to limit Arsenal to attempts from range like that
32mins
David Jones tries to break for Wolves but his attempt to pick out Jarvis is inaccurate and Arsenal can attack once again
30mins
Walcott fires the ball across the penalty area but it's a skewed attempt in the end
29mins
Wolves have been closing the ball down to good effect in the last few minutes and this is a better approach from the away side
27mins
It is quite astounding that Arsenal aren't leading in this game. Wolves have been taught a lesson in football so far and it's surely only a matter of time before the deadlock is broken
25mins
Sagna finds Walcott, who pulls the ball back brilliantly for Vermaelen but he can't turn his effort towards goal
23mins
Elokobi's weak header falls to Walcott, who drives a fierce volley through a crowd of players and forces another save from Hahnemann
21mins
Matt Jarvis shrugs off Walcott as the Arsenal man tries to go on another blistering run down the wing. Jarvis will need to do more of that this afternoon to keep Arsenal at bay
20mins
Arsenal have a free kick in a dangerous area after poor play from Henry. Eduardo rolls the ball to Thomas Vermaelen, who skies an effort high and wide
19mins
Song picks out Eboue, who turns and finds Walcott. The ball comes back to Eboue from Walcott but he fails to connect properly and the chance breaks down
17mins
Play resumes after that collision and Arsenal string together a succession of passes with ease before Rosicky is fouled
16mins
Hahnemann is down injured after a collision with Sagna. The defender looks OK to continue but the Wolves man looks unsteady on his feet right now
14mins
Hahnemann makes another brilliant save, this time from the man of the moment himself, Walcott. Arsenal really should be leading by now
13mins
Walcott finds Bacary Sagna in the box but the defender drives the ball straight at Hahnemann. That was another decent save from the Wolves keeper and more inspiring creative play from Walcott
11mins
Michael Mancienne shoots from 25 yards out. The shot is wide of the target but his attempt leaves Manuel Almunia helpless. Seconds later, Eduardo makes a complete mess of a brilliant chance from close range
10mins
Walcott has looked bright so far and he plays the ball forward to Eduardo, who picks out Alexandre Song. Wolves manage to intercept the ball but Arsenal get it back within a matter of seconds. Good start from the home side
8mins
Karl Henry delivers the ball into the box from a set piece but none of the other players seem to be on the same wavelength and the ball drifts harmlessly out of play
7mins
That was a brilliant chance for Arsenal but the Wolves keeper did very well to prevent Eduardo from opening the scoring
6mins
Walcott finds himself with the ball again and gets past Elokobi. The ball falls to Eduardo and the striker fires an attempt at Marcus Hahnemann, who makes a decent save
3mins
Theo Walcott gets into a good position on the right but makes a mess of his cross and wastes what was a decent move from the home side
1mins
Wolves have a free kick early on, with Kevin Doyle showing good early endeavour in the Arsenal half. George Elokobi takes the free kick towards Christophe Berra but Arsenal clear through Da Silva Eduardo and Emmanuel Eboue
0mins
Referee Andre Marriner gets the game underway at the Emirates Stadium
0mins
After Chelsea's win at Old Trafford, Arsenal will be looking to keep up the pressure on their London rivals with a win over visiting Wolves today
Match Preview
Arsenal play host to Wolves at the Emirates Stadium with Arsene Wenger's men looking to keep their title hopes alive.
As well as thrashing Wolves 4-1 earlier in the season at Molineux, the north Londoners have also won their last five home games against Wolves, and the Arsenal faithful will therefore be confident of picking up all three points and keeping the pressure on Manchester United and Chelsea.
However, Wolves will be no pushovers, having not lost for four league games.
Hard-earned points against Aston Villa and Everton, sides with serious European aspirations, will have done wonders for confidence at Molineux while the fact that Mick McCarthy's men have taken a league-high 50 per cent of their points away from home this season, is also sure to give the travelling side a boost.
Wanderers have also done well on their visits to London this term, winning two of their last three visits courtesy of victorious trips to Upton Park and White Hart Lane.
McCarthy's men will, however, have to be particularly vigilant in the closing stages of this encounter, as the Gunners have scored at least once in the last 20 minutes in each of their last 10 league games at the Emirates.
The visitors will be near to full strength when they face Arsenal, with Wales international David Edwards now close to a return.
For the Gunners, Robin van Persie is back in training but a return to competitive football still remains some way off.
However, their midweek Champions League 2-2 draw with Barcelona came at a high cost as Cesc Fabregas (potential broken leg) and William Gallas (calf) look set for lengthy spells on the sidelines.
Russia playmaker Andrey Arshavin will also not feature this weekend after picking up a calf strain in the same game.
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Match Report
A stoppage-time goal from Nicklas Bendtner kept Arsenal in the title race after they has been largely frustrated by ten-man Wolves before running out 1-0 winners at the Emirates Stadium.
A series of fine saves by visiting keeper Marcus Hahnemann and some resolute defending was almost enough to earn Mick McCarthy's side a share of the points.
But substitute Bendtner met Bacary Sagna's cross from the right to head past the American keeper to send the Emirates faithful into raptures.
The Gunners began quite brightly despite their midweek exertions against Barcelona.
They should have been 2-0 ahead in the first 15 minutes. First Eduardo had time to pick his spot in front of goal but instead scuffed a hurried shot wide of the left post.
Then a minute later, Sagna was released by an inspired Theo Walcott but his powerfully shot was saved by the legs of Hahnemann.
The Wolves keeper showed his bravery a minute later when sliding in to deny Sagna. The ball spilled to Emmanuel Eboue, who instead of turning and shooting went for the elaborate back-heel and the chance slipped away.
Wolves never threatened Arsenal's goal but were more concerned with disrupting the play of the hosts.
Arsenal made a hesitant start to the second half and the Wolves goal was rarely threatened.
Eduardo had an excellent chance in the 54th minute but slipped as he shot and the ball went wide when the keeper should have really been tested.
Tomas Rosicky drew a save out of Hahnemann just before the hour but his low drive from the right was comfortably claimed at the near post.
This was a tired and disjointed performance from Arsenal and, as every minute went by, Arsene Wenger's frustration grew as did Wolves' desire to go forward.
Wolves were reduced to ten men in the 67th minute when Karl Henry was sent off for a savage tackle from behind on Rosicky.
The Czech player dusted himself down and then forced an excellent save out of the Wolves keeper when he latched on to a mis-hit pass from Walcott to shoot from close range.
At the other end, Wolves were awarded a questionable free-kick and the resultant header by Ronald Zubar was cleared off the line by Rosicky.
The Gunners virtually set up camp on the edge of the Wolves area but could not find a breakthrough.
But as the last of the five minutes of injury time ticked away, the ball found its way to Sagna on the right flank.
The full-back sent over a perfect cross for Bendtner to out-muscle his marker and guide a header into the right corner beyond Hahnemann to keep the Gunners in the title race.
Arsenal Team
Wolverhampton Wanderers Team
Arsenal | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
Corners
| 8 | 4 |
Fouls
| 11 | 13 |
Goal attempts
| 16 | 1 |
Shots off target
| 8 | 1 |
Offsides
| 0 | 2 |




90mins
Walcott squares the ball across the box but it is turned out of play for a corner. Sagna takes the corner and the ball eventually falls to Nasri, who picks out Walcott but the winger's shot misses the target