Wolves 2-2 Arsenal Player Ratings: Premier League Leaders Drop Points after Riccardo Calafiori's Own Goal

Arsenal were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Premier League match at Molineux Stadium, after surrendering a two-goal lead late in the game.

The Gunners made a strong start and took an early lead after Bukayo Saka delivered a clinical finish following sustained pressure. The hosts continued to control the match and doubled their advantage shortly after the break. Piero Hincapié scored to put the Gunners in a commanding position.

However, Wolverhampton Wanderers responded with determination. Hugo Bueno scored with an impressive long-range effort to reduce the deficit and give the home side renewed belief. Deep into stoppage time, Wolves completed the comeback when an unfortunate own goal by substitute Riccardo Calafiori brought the match level. In this article, let's take a look at Wolves vs Arsenal player ratings from the EPL fixture.

Key Takeaways

1. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring to give Arsenal an early lead.
2. Piero Hincapié doubled Arsenal’s advantage shortly after the restart.
3. An own goal by Riccardo Calafiori sealed a dramatic 2–2 draw for Wolves.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Here are Sportsdunia's Arsenal player ratings from the breathtaking EPL match against Wolves:

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 5.5: A very shaky evening for the Arsenal shot-stopper. He conceded two goals and didn't look comfortable at all. His distribution was particularly poor, with only 47% of his passes finding their man. From our perspective, he seemed to spread nervousness throughout the backline rather than calm. Not a performance he'll want to remember.

Defenders

William Saliba - 6.0: A strangely subdued performance from the usually imperious Frenchman. He won just 43% of his duels which is well below his standard. While he made five clearances, he also looked vulnerable at times and was part of a defence that ultimately crumbled under late pressure. An average day at the office.

Piero Hincapié - 8.0: Easily Arsenal's best player on the pitch. He scored what should have been the winning goal and was a creative force, providing an incredible three key passes from defence. He won 7 of his 9 duels and was a rock at the back for most of the game. A truly commanding display that was let down by his teammates.

Gabriel Magalhães - 7.5: A very solid partner to Hincapié for the majority of the game. He provided the assist for the second goal and didn't lose a single duel he contested. He was strong, composed, and read the game well with an interception and five clearances. It’s hard to fault him for the late collapse.

Jurriën Timber - 6.5: An industrious but ultimately frustrating performance. He was busy down the flank, getting 73 touches, but he also lost possession 16 times. He made some good defensive contributions with two tackles and a clearance, but his final product in attack was lacking. A mixed bag.

Midfielders

Bukayo Saka - 8.0: Absolutely electric before his unfortunate injury. He scored the opening goal with a smart header and was a constant menace, completing all five of his dribble attempts. His departure in the 73rd minute was a huge blow for Arsenal, and you have to wonder if the result would have been different had he stayed on. He was fantastic.

Declan Rice - 7.5: Another all-action display from the midfield engine. He provided a pinpoint cross for Saka's goal and was a monster defensively, winning 6 of 7 duels and making 9 ball recoveries. He drove the team forward and controlled the tempo for large periods. What stood out to us was his relentless energy.

Martín Zubimendi - 6.5: A tidy, if unspectacular, performance in the middle of the park. He did the simple things well, winning most of his duels and making crucial tackles. He kept possession ticking over but didn't offer a huge amount of creativity going forward. A solid but forgettable outing.

Noni Madueke - 6.0: A lively but inefficient display. He got into good positions and had three shots, but his end product wasn't there. He was dispossessed twice and looked a bit lightweight before being substituted. There was effort, but not enough quality to make a real difference.

Gabriel Martinelli - 5.5: A really poor day for the Brazilian. He missed a big chance, was caught offside twice, and lost possession a staggering 21 times. Nothing seemed to go right for him. He worked hard, recovering the ball seven times, but his attacking contribution was wasteful and frustrating to watch.

Forwards

Viktor Gyökeres - 5.0: Completely anonymous. In 65 minutes on the pitch, he managed only 11 touches of the ball. He offered no threat, no hold-up play, and no presence whatsoever. It was no surprise to see him hooked; a really ineffective performance.

Substitutes

Gabriel Jesus - 6.0: Came on but struggled to get involved in the game as Wolves pushed forward.

Eberechi Eze - 6.0: Skied a late chance that could have won the game for Arsenal.

Leandro Trossard - N/A: On for a short while before getting injured himself.

Riccardo Calafiori - 3.0: A nightmare cameo. Brought on in the 93rd minute to see the game out, he scored a calamitous own goal in the 94th. A disastrous contribution that cost his team two points.

Manager

M. Arteta - 6.0: His team was in complete control at 2-0 up and should have seen this game out comfortably. The late collapse, regardless of the individual error, reflects poorly on the team's game management. His substitutions failed to have a positive impact, and he'll be furious to have thrown away the win.

Wolves Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Check out Wolves player ratings from the Premier League clash:

Goalkeeper

José Sá - 6.5: He couldn't do much about either of Arsenal's goals. He made two important saves from inside the box and looked confident claiming high balls. His distribution was solid under pressure, and he commanded his area well enough. A decent showing.

Defenders

Yerson Mosquera - 6.5: A very chaotic performance. He was a tackling machine, winning 4 of his 6 attempts and even making a last-man tackle. However, he was incredibly wasteful, losing possession 25 times. He was a disruptive force but a liability on the ball.

Santiago Bueno - 7.0: Provided the crucial assist for Wolves' first goal, sparking the comeback. He was solid defensively for the most part, though he did pick up a yellow card for a rash challenge. He also created another chance and showed good awareness.

Ladislav Krejci - 6.0: A mixed performance. He made a huge 4 interceptions but was also prone to errors, with one leading directly to a shot. His passing was erratic, but he battled hard and made some important clearances. Not his best day, but he contributed defensively.

Midfielders

Hugo Bueno - 7.5: Scored an absolute screamer from outside the box to drag his team back into the game. He was a bundle of energy all night, making 10 ball recoveries and winning 7 duels. An excellent all-round performance full of fight and quality.

Jackson Tchatchoua - 5.5: Struggled to make any real impact on the game. He lost the ball far too often and his crossing was inaccurate. It was no surprise to see him substituted after 70 minutes of ineffective play. He worked hard but lacked the necessary quality.

André - 5.5: Largely anonymous in the midfield battle. He lost two-thirds of his duels and was dispossessed twice. He failed to offer much defensive protection or forward momentum. A passenger for large parts of the match.

Angel Gomes - N/A: Forced off with an injury after just 22 minutes. Not on the pitch long enough to receive a fair rating.

Forwards

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde - 6.0: A tireless worker but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. He picked up a deserved yellow card for a poor foul and was often on the periphery of the action. He battled but didn't provide the spark Wolves needed.

Mateus Mané - 5.0: A really frustrating player to watch. He lost possession 18 times and his decision-making was consistently poor. He seemed to run into dead ends constantly. From our perspective, he was one of the weakest links in the Wolves attack.

Adam Armstrong - 5.5: Completely isolated up front. He had a measly 18 touches in 90 minutes and was starved of any real service. He can't be faulted for a lack of effort, but he was unable to influence the game in any meaningful way.

Substitutes

Tolu Arokodare - 6.0: Came on early for the injured Gomes and put himself about, but didn't offer a significant goal threat.

Rodrigo Gomes - N/A: Minimal time to make an impact.

Tom Edozie - 6.5: His late blocked shot led to the chaos that resulted in the own goal. A brief but crucial involvement.

Manager

R. Edwards - 7.5: What a comeback. His team looked dead and buried at 2-0 down, but he has instilled a phenomenal fighting spirit in this squad. They never gave up, and their resilience earned them a huge point. He deserves immense credit for masterminding the turnaround against a top side.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Arsenal's Piero Hincapie.

Worst Performer

Riccardo Calafiori's own goal helped Wolves draw the EPL match.