Arsenal 2-1 Wolves Player Ratings: Bukayo Saka 8.5/10 Rated as Own Goals Saves Gunners' in a Dramatic Clash at Emirates Stadium

What an absolutely bizarre end to a football match. Arsenal somehow, someway, managed to snatch a 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium. This was a game defined by sheer luck more than tactical brilliance. The Gunners will feel relieved, but this performance was far from convincing.

The first half was a story of missed opportunities for the home side. Arsenal huffed and puffed, creating chances but failing to find that clinical edge. Wolves, to their credit, defended with resilience, seemingly content to frustrate their opponents in this crucial Premier League clash.

The deadlock was finally, and strangely, broken in the 70th minute. A calamitous own goal from keeper Sam Johnstone gifted Arsenal the lead. Just when it seemed like a point was secured for Wolves after Tolu Arokodare's powerful header in the 90th minute, disaster struck again for the visitors. In the dying moments of stoppage time, Yerson Mosquera deflected the ball into his own net, handing the three points to a very, very fortunate Arsenal side. It was a chaotic conclusion to an unforgettable match. Here are Sportsdunia's Arsenal vs Wolves player ratings.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Wolves

Check out the Arsenal player ratings for the Arsenal vs Wolves fixture.

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6.5: Had very little to do for most of the game. He made one key save inside the box but couldn't do much about the late equalizer. His distribution was solid with 90% accuracy, but he was largely a spectator. A quiet day at the office that ended with a conceded goal.

Defenders

Ben White - 6.0: His evening was cut short by an unfortunate injury just 31 minutes in. Before that, he was getting involved in the final third but looked a bit vulnerable. It's hard to give a comprehensive rating given his limited time on the pitch. We hope the injury isn't serious.

William Saliba - 6.5: A typical Saliba performance in possession, calm and composed with 93% pass accuracy. However, we noticed he struggled in the air, losing five aerial duels which is uncharacteristic. He wasn't bad by any means but seemed a step below his usual imperious best.

Piero Hincapié - 8.0: What stood out to us was his defensive work rate. The man was everywhere. He won an impressive nine duels, made three interceptions, and four clearances. He even popped up with a key pass. A really strong and aggressive performance that kept Wolves' attackers quiet for large spells.

Jurriën Timber - 7.0: A solid and reliable display from the Dutchman. He was comfortable on the ball, linking up play well down the flank and contributing a key pass. Defensively, he was sound winning most of his duels and making a couple of important clearances. A decent showing all around.

Midfielders

Declan Rice - 7.0: A very mixed bag from Rice. He lost possession a staggering 24 times which is a huge concern. He also missed a big chance he should have buried. On the flip side, he created a big chance and his 10 crosses showed his intent to make things happen. He was involved in everything, for better and for worse.

Martín Zubimendi - 6.0: Played just under an hour and failed to really impose himself on the game. His passing was tidy enough but he was a bit loose in possession at times. We expected a bit more control from him in the midfield battle. A fairly anonymous outing.

Eberechi Eze - 6.0: Similar to Zubimendi, Eze was quiet during his 57 minutes on the pitch. He struggled to find space and create the magic we know he's capable of. He was neat on the ball but lacked any real penetration or final product. A forgettable performance.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka - 8.5: Easily Arsenal's best player and our man of the match. He was a constant thorn in Wolves' side, creating four chances and winning all of his duels. Every time he got the ball, you felt something might happen. He was unlucky to hit the woodwork but was the sole source of genuine quality for the Gunners.

Gabriel Martinelli - 6.0: Full of energy and running but incredibly wasteful. He had four shots and missed a big chance that could have changed the game early on. From our perspective, his decision-making in the final third was poor. He needs to add composure to his game.

Viktor Gyökeres - 5.5: We were excited to see him start, but he was completely isolated. With only 15 touches in 81 minutes, he was a ghost. The service to him was poor, but he also failed to get involved in the build-up play. A very disappointing display.

Substitutes

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 7.0: Came on for the injured White and did well. Looked confident and got an assist for a blocked shot. A promising cameo.

Martin Ødegaard - 6.5: Brought on to provide a creative spark but squandered a couple of chances. Got into good positions but his finishing was off.

Leandro Trossard - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on, assisting a shot on target. Missed a decent chance himself but added some much-needed energy.

Mikel Merino - 6.5: Added some steel to the midfield and had a shot blocked. Did his job without pulling up any trees.

Gabriel Jesus - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

M. Arteta - 6.5: His team got the three points, which is the bottom line. However, the performance was disjointed and reliant on two own goals. His side lacked a clinical edge and looked vulnerable at the end. He'll take the win, but knows they were incredibly fortunate.

Wolves Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Check out the Wolves player ratings for the Arsenal vs Wolves fixture.

Goalkeeper

Sam Johnstone - 5.0: Made a couple of saves but his night will be remembered for the incredibly unfortunate own goal. He punched the ball onto his own body and into the net. It was a bizarre moment that changed the game, and a keeper's rating can't recover from that.

Defenders

Emmanuel Agbadou - 6.0: A busy night for the defender, who made eight clearances. However, he also picked up a yellow card and was a bit clumsy in the challenge. A mixed performance, solid in parts but shaky in others.

Yerson Mosquera - 4.5: Heartbreak for the defender. For 93 minutes, he was having a decent game, winning his duels and even creating a big chance. Then, the decisive, tragic own goal in stoppage time cost his team a valuable point. It's a cruel game, and that single moment defines his entire rating.

Toti - 6.5: The captain led by example with a massive 12 clearances. He was a rock at the back for most of the game, putting his body on the line. He was dribbled past a couple of times but overall it was a committed and strong defensive effort.

Midfielders

Matt Doherty - 5.5: A very ill-disciplined performance. He committed five fouls and rightly received a yellow card. He seemed off the pace and was a liability before being substituted. Not his finest hour.

David Møller Wolfe - 6.0: A steady, if unspectacular, game. He did his defensive duties, making five clearances and even created a chance. Didn't make any glaring errors but also didn't provide much of a spark going forward.

André - 6.5: A quietly effective performance in the middle. He read the game well, making eight clearances and an interception. His passing was secure, and he shielded the backline effectively. An understated but important role.

João Gomes - 6.5: A bundle of energy in midfield. He made six ball recoveries and two successful tackles, showing his tenacity. An error leading to a shot blots his copybook, but it was an all-action display.

Ladislav Krejci - 5.0: Really struggled to get into the game. His pass accuracy of 38% is frankly shocking for a midfielder at this level. He lost the ball far too often and just looked out of his depth before being subbed.

Forwards

Hee-chan Hwang - 5.5: He worked hard but it was a frustrating evening for him. He missed a big chance, committed six fouls and picked up a booking. His indiscipline cost his team momentum at times. He needed to offer more in an attacking sense.

Jørgen Strand Larsen - 5.5: Much like Arsenal's striker, he was completely anonymous. Just 17 touches in 69 minutes tells its own story. He was well-marshalled by the Arsenal defence and offered next to nothing as an attacking threat.

Substitutes

Tolu Arokodare - 7.5: Made the perfect impact. Came on and scored the powerful header that looked to have earned his side a point. A brilliant cameo.

Jackson Tchatchoua - 6.0: Replaced the struggling Doherty and looked more solid defensively.

Jhon Arias - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Fer López - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Mateus Mané - 7.0: Provided the crucial assist for the equalizer with a great cross. A very effective substitute.

Manager

R. Edwards - 7.0: From our perspective, he can feel incredibly hard done by. He set his team up perfectly to frustrate Arsenal and they executed the plan well. His substitutes made a huge impact, and they deserved a point. He can't legislate for two freak own goals.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Bukayo Saka