Riccardo Calafiori was the hero when Arsenal stayed within six points of the Premier League summit with a 1-0 win over Wolves, in a tough match in which each team received a red card.
The Gunners left Myles Lewis-Skelly away in the first half for an awkward challenge against Matt Doherty, giving the fighters of Vitor Pereira hope for a much needed victory.
The momentum seemed to be with them around the hour, but David Raya produced a full salvation to deny Matheus Cunha just before the Brazilian poked next to the ball when he was not marked at the distant pole.
Joao Gomes then received a second yellow card for a hard failure on Jurrien Timber high on the field, which gave Arsenal the impulse to insist on a winner.
Wolves could not sustain it because in the 74th minute Calafiori managed to stop a left -legged finish out of the reach of Jose Sa, giving the hosts a fourth league defeat in a row and they only lagged behind the relegation zone on goal difference.
In the meantime, Arsenal lags six points behind leader Liverpool, which on Saturday in eighteenth place Ipswich Town defeated 4-1.
Determination: Defenders are at the forefront
The trials of the Arsenal attackers are well documented this season and Kai Havertz has recently been criticized.
He missed three flagrant opportunities at Molineux when Arsenal threatened to lose terrain on Liverpool.
Fortunately for Mikel Arteta, he has defenders who can contribute to the sharp side of the field.
After the winner of Calafiori this season, Arsenal scored more Premier League goals by defenders than any other team (eight).
Wolves have now received fourteen goals against defenders. They lost their first four league matches of a calendar year for the third time, after which they relegated in both previous cases (in 1906 and 1982).
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