- Craddock (89)
- Zubar (28 og), Craddock (35 og), Fabregas (45), Arshavin (66)
- Date:2009-11-07
- Kick-off:17:30
- Venue:Molineux Stadium
- Attendance:28937
- Referee:Bennett, S
Live Commentary
90mins
There goes the full time whistle and Arsenal leapfrog Manchester united to go second in the league while Wolves stay in the bottom three after dropping into the relegation zone after earlier results.
89mins
Arsene Wenger won't be happy as Arsenal fail to deal with yet another set piece as Craddock gets a free header to score his third of the season from Jarvis' corner.
87mins
That should have been five, Rosicky slamming the ball over the bat from eight yards after a lovely pull back from van Persie.
85mins
Ebanks-Blake is still full of running as he hassles Gallas all the way back to his own area as the French international shields the ball back to Almunia.
83mins
A poor backpass to Hennessey nearly gift Arsenal a fifth, the striker taking it around the keeper only to be crowded out by returning a defenders.
82mins
Fabregas dinks the ball over the Wolves defence looking for van Persie, the Dutch striker is offside though as Arsenal continue to toy with Wolves.
78mins
Wolves make their final change and on comes Michael Mancienne in place of David Edwards.
75mins
75 minutes gone and to my recollection up until now Fabergas hadn't made a mistake, until the Arsenal captain skyed the ball into the crowd after van Persie's pull back.
73mins
Arsenal make their third and final change with Samir Nasri coming on for Andrey Arshavin.
73mins
Wolves make their second change with Matt Jarvis coming on for Nenad Milijas.
70mins
Second change for Arsenal as Eduardo is brought off to be replaced by Tomas Rosicky.
69mins
The Wolves fans inside Molineux are still trying to get behind their team, but aren't being helped by freekicks like the one Milijas just delivered, sending it straight down the throat of Almunia.
66mins
It should be all over now as Arshavin makes it four, driving the ball home after side stepping the challenge of Milijas, all of which stemmed from Wolves' failure to clear a corner.
64mins
Arshavin breaks into the box on the left hand side and drives the ball towards the near post, only for Hennessey to tip it behind, fine save.
63mins
Wolves make their first change with Segundo Castillo going off to be replaced by Michael Kightly, who is making 100th appearance for the club.
58mins
Steve Bennett's yellow card is busy as it is flashed in the direction of Nenad Milijas for a late challenge on Sagna.
58mins
Kieran Gibbs goes into the book after he brought down Zubar with a high tackle.
55mins
Milijas sends a high ball into the penalty area from a freekick and things don't get any better for Wolves as it is easily collected by Almunia.
53mins
Arsenal are looking as slick as ever as the ball is pulled through the centre looking for Eduardo only for the ball to skip off the surface and bounce through to Hennessey.
48mins
Sagna gives the ball to Arshavin on the right who whips a deep cross in, only for Hennessey to produce a good catch under pressure to collect the ball.
45mins
As the second half gets underway replays at half time have shown that Arsenal's second goal was an own goal with Craddock credited with it, his second goal in as many weeks.
45mins
Steve Bennett blows for half time with Arsenal comfortably ahead, getting lucky with the first two goals before scoring a sublime third. All this coming after Wolves' early dominance.
45mins
Fabergas all put wraps up the points for Arsenal with a goal in stoppage time, van Persie showing some lovely touches before unleashing the Gunners skipper who was cool enough to beat Hennessey one-on-one.
43mins
Arsenal are piling on the pressure as Ramsey breaks into the box and pokes the ball towards the far post, only for Berra to scramble it away.
39mins
Arshavin is shown a yellow card for a professional foul on Stearman.
39mins
Fabregas' corner kick is another poor one as it is headed away, only as far as Ramsey who can't keep the attack going and Wolves can breath again.
38mins
Another great breakaway from Arsenal with Arshavin leading the way before laying it off to van Persie whose shot is deflected behind for a corner.
35mins
Arsenal make it two with a typical counter attack after Ramsey's quick break leading to Eduardo trying to curl the ball in which is helped on his way by Craddock to leave Hennessey helpless.
32mins
Arsenal win another corner which Fabergas over hits as he sends it towards the far post and Wolves have a goal kick.
30mins
Arsenal are looking very dangerous now as Ramsey wastes a great chance to make it two, sending his effort over the crossbar.
28mins
Arsenal take the lead but it is Zubar who has gifted it to them. The Gunners swinging in a corner which Hennessey flapped at, the ball hitting Zubar and going in as he battled with Eduardo for it.
26mins
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is given a yellow card for his deliberate handball.
26mins
Milijas swings in a corner after Ramsey had headed the ball over his own bar under pressure. Unfortunately for Wolves Ebanks-Blake handles the ball and the freekick is given.
24mins
Early setback for Arsenal as Abou Diaby limps off to be replaced by Alex Song, who started the game on the bench because Arsene Wenger felt he could do with a rest.
23mins
Milijas swings in a freekick from the right after Arshavin's foul, but this time the Gunners deal with it, Vermaelen heading the ball away from danger.
20mins
Eduardo steps away from a Wolves player after some good build up and looks like he is about to pull the trigger before a great sliding challenge by Zubar denies him.
17mins
Castillo gives the ball away and van Persie breaks with it, with Fabergas waiting for the ball on the edge of the penalty only to be disappointed by van Persie's poor pass.
17mins
Arshavin brings down Stearman, giving Wolves a decent freekick out on the right hand side. From the freekick it bounces around inside the box before Doyle's effort is blocked and cleared.
13mins
Eduardo goes down inside the penalty area under the challenge of Berra and looks towards the referee. However, Steve Bennett waves away any protests and play continues.
12mins
Arsenal finally pose an attacking threat as van Persie bursts through after a good through ball from Arshavin, unfortunately for the Dutch striker he went a bit too early and is caught offside.
10mins
Great chance for Wolves. From the corner Ebanks-Blake rises high to glance the ball towards goal only to see it skip off the surface and go inches wide.
9mins
Wolves win another corner kick, but in the build-up to that Gallas had taken out Doyle and is given a yellow card by referee Steve Bennett.
6mins
Lucky escape for Arsenal as Wolves win a corner, sending it towards the near post where Doyle flicks it on, over Almunia only for Gibbs to head it off the line.
5mins
Good start by Wolves as Zubar gets a deep cross, putting Gallas under pressure, which the Frenchman deals with heading it away.
5mins
Good play from Ebanks-Blake who robs Diaby and breaks to the edge of the penalty before being disposed by Gibbs and Vermaelen.
2mins
Craddock flies into van Persie and gives away an early freekick. Just a warning sign there for van Persie that he will have to be just as sharp as he has been recently to beat the veteran centre-back.
0mins
The last time these two sides meet Freddie Ljungberg and Patrick Vieira scored for the Gunners, how time has moved on for Arsene Wenger as his side look to go second with a victory over Wolves.
0mins
Arsenal XI: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Ramsey, Diaby, Arshavin, Fabregas, Eduardo, van Persie
0mins
Arsenal also make three changes from the team that beat AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday with Aaron Ramsey, Bacary Sagna and Eduardo coming in for Emmanuel Eboue, Alexandre Song and Samir Nasri.
0mins
Wolves XI: Hennessey, Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Stearman, Edwards, Henry, Castillo, Milijas, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake
0mins
Wolves make three changes from the side that came back to draw 2-2 at Stoke with Richard Stearman, Nenad Milijas and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake coming in for Michael Kightly, George Elokobi and Chris Iwelumo.
Match Preview
Wolverhampton Wanderers play host to Arsenal at Molineux, hoping to build on a number of promising displays in recent weeks.
Mick McCarthy's side have won just twice in 11 games since their return to the top-flight, but have drawn their last three games, earning valuable points from a tough trip to Everton and a home derby clash with Aston Villa.
Most recently Wolves battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Stoke City, with veteran central defender Jody Craddock netting twice at the Britannia Stadium.
Serbia midfielder Nenad Milijas provided the assists for both of Craddock's goal and he is pushing for a starting spot against the Gunners.
Winger Michael Kightly, who is now back in action following a lengthy injury lay-off, told the Express & Star: "I don't think we need to fear anyone in this league and we've shown that over the last three games.
"If everyone thinks we're not going to get anything from the games, that will suit us.
"When we're the underdogs, we're a dangerous animal and we can cause teams problems."
Visitors Arsenal are in fine form and just five points behind league leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.
Last time out Arsene Wenger's side demolished Spurs 3-0 in a north London derby at the Emirates Stadium, with Robin van Persie scoring twice to take his tally to six in his last five league games.
The Gunners are without the likes of Denilson and Theo Walcott due to injuries, while both Gael Clichy (back) and Nickals Bendtner (groin) have suffered setbacks this week and will be absent for some time.
However, Wenger's squad is deep enough to be able to cope with a number of absentees, with Kieran Gibbs set to fill in at left-back for Frenchman Clichy.
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Match Report
Cesc Fabregas led Arsenal on another goal spree as Wolves became the latest side to fall victim to Arsene Wenger's free-scoring team.
Arsenal took their goal tally to a staggering 55 from just 19 games - with 11 coming in their last three matches - as they moved second in the table on goal difference, two points behind Chelsea.
They were given a helping hand by own goals from Ronald Zubar and Jody Craddock.
But Fabregas, who helped create two of the goals, then helped himself to a classy third on the stroke of half-time before Andrey Arshavin pounced on the hour to help Arsenal extend their unbeaten run to 13 games and take their points tally to 19 from a possible 21.
Craddock grabbed a consolation in the final minute when he headed home a corner from Matt Jarvis - adding to his double at Stoke City in the previous game - but it was little comfort for Wolves.
Ironically, Wolves, who had dropped into the bottom three even before the game kicked-off, started the brighter of the two sides and paid a heavy price for failing to make that pay.
They have now collected just three points from their last six matches and things aren't going to get any easier in the short-term as their next match is at Chelsea.
Wolves' set-piece play dominated the early stages and not taking advantage of that proved to their undoing.
Kevin Doyle saw his seventh minute corner from a Nenad Milijas corner cleared off the line by Kieran Gibbs before Sylvan Ebanks-Blake headed another corner narrowly wide.
When Christophe Berra failed to take advantage of a close-range header from another Milijas delivery, Wolves had run out of chances to strike first.
But they were ultimately the masters of their own undoing due in no small part to goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
After Craddock had turned a header from Thomas Vermaelen wide, Fabregas whipped in a 28th minute corner across the face of goal.
Hennessey flapped at the ball with one hand without any effect and could only turn and stare as the ball was deflected into the net off Zubar.
Wolves' luck was out again eight minutes later when Aaron Ramsey led a swift Arsenal counter-attack.
Ramsey picked out Eduardo whose ambitious chip looked to be heading wide before being deflected off the head off Craddock and past the flat-footed Hennessey.
While Wolves felt hard done with the manner of the first two goals, they could have no complaints with the third as they were cut apart by Arsenal.
Bacary Sagna fed the ball into the path of Eduardo whose neat pass to Fabregas was clinically dispatched by the Arsenal skipper - taking his tally for the season to nine.
Arshavin then set the seal on the win seconds after Hennessey had turned his shot away for a corner.
Fabregas sent over a cross that Hennessey punched straight to Arshavin, whose drive from the edge of the area rolled just inside the near post.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Team
Arsenal Team
Wolverhampton Wanderers | Arsenal |
Corners
| 4 | 4 |
Fouls
| 11 | 15 |
Goal attempts
Shots off target
| 3 | 3 |
Offsides
| 1 | 8 |



90mins
Three minutes of added on time to be played with Wolves searching for a second goal.