Wolves vs Arsenal LIVE RESULT: Calafiori gives Gunners crucial win after BOTH teams down to 10 men – updates
RICCARDO CALAFIORI scored the winner for Arsenal over Wolves in a hugely controversial clash which saw BOTH teams down to 10 men.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off for Arsenal for a farcical trip 90 yards from the Wolves goal in the final minute of the first half, which was then confirmed by VAR as "serious foul play".
Wolves then had Joao Gomes sent off for a high challenge raking the ankle with 20 minutes to go.
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That's all from Molineux
It's been a day that sums up Arsenal's season.
Unexpected absences. Defenders stepping in to relieve misfiring forwards. A hard-fought win to keep them in touch with the leaders. And a controversial decision that has fans raging.
Myles Lewis-Skelly's red card will be the main talking point, but credit should go to Mikel Arteta and his team, who prevailed thanks for a lovely goal from substitute Riccardo Calafiori.
It's the kind of win that champions are made of, but Arsenal still have some way to go if they are to catch Liverpool. One thing is for certain, don't rule them out.
Thanks for joining us, and goodnight.
January blues for Old Gold
Having started life under Vitor Pereira with two straight wins, Wolves have now lost four on the bounce with their new head coach.
It's only the third time in the club's history that the Molineux outfit have begun a new calendar year with four straight league defeats.
Unfortunately for the Old Gold, those previous campaigns (1905-06 and 1981-82) both ended in relegation from the top-flight.
- L3-0 v Nott'm Forest (H), Jan 6.
- L3-0 v Newcastle (A), Jan 15.
- L3-1 v Chelsea (A), Jan 20.
- L1-0 v Arsenal (H), Jan 25.
Arteta rages at Lewis-Skelly red
Mikel Arteta still hadn't calmed down long after his side had come through the toughest of tests with ten men at Wolves.
The Arsenal boss continued to stew on the hugely controversial decision to send off Myles Lewis-Skelly for serious foul play, admitting that he was 'absolutely fuming'.
Arteta revealed that perhaps the club didn't even need to appeal the decision so obvious was the error, citing Bruno Fernandes' red card earlier in the season that was overturned.
It is that clear that I leave it to you guys. I am absolutely fuming, but I leave it with you. Because it is that obvious. I don't think my words are going to help. It's for the club to decide what the best decision is. I think it's that obvious, maybe we don't even need to [appeal].
Mikel Arteta
Ex-Prem ref blasts red card decision
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey believes Michael Oliver's decision to send off Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly for his challenge on Matt Doherty was the WRONG one.
The sending off shortly before half-time at Molineux has caused huge controversy. Most was anticipating a yellow card for a tactical foul that stopped a Wolves attack, but instead Oliver produced red believing the defender had committed serious foul play with a dangerous tackle above the ankle.
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey slams decision not to overturn Myles Lewis-Skelly's red card in Arsenal's win over WolvesTeen drama for young Myles
At 18 years and 121 days, Myles Lewis-Skelly became the youngest Arsenal player to be sent off in a Premier League match.
He was also the third youngest to receive a red card in the competition overall after Wayne Rooney versus Birmingham City in 2002 (17y 63d), and Michael Owen against Manchester United in 1998 (18y 117d).
If MLS goes on to have a career as good as the other, I doubt he'll look back on today's events with any regret.
Match stats from Molineux
Riccardo Calafiori's wonderful winner in Wolverhampton means Arsenal have now had eight of their 44 goals this season scored by defenders - it's more than any other team in the Premier League.
Gunners keep pace with Liverpool
Arsenal remain six points behind leaders Liverpool despite their hard-fought victory at Molineux.
And that's because while the Gunners were showing grit to defeat Wolves, Arne Slot's team were swotting aside Ipswich at Anfield.
Third-placed Nottingham Forest were thumped by brilliant Bournemouth while Newcastle returned to winning ways with victory at Southampton.
David Moyes' joyous return to Goodison continued with Everton's 1-0 success at Brighton.
- Bournemouth 5-0 Nott'm Forest
- Brighton 0-1 Everton
- Liverpool 4-1 Ipswich
- Southampton 1-3 Newcastle
- Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
- Man City v Chelsea (5.30pm)
Full time - Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
A BIG performance from Arsenal and a HUGE three points in their pursuit of the Premier League title.
The Gunners had an uphill task ahead of them at half-time when down to ten men following the sending off of Myles Lewis-Skelly, but rather than feeling aggrieved, they came out fighting.
And when Joao Gomes' red card evened the teams up, there was only going to be one winner.
Kai Havertz missed a hat-trick of headers, but then up stepped substitute Riccardo Calafiori with the most sumptuous of finishes.
It's a goal - a win - that could be so important come the end of the season.
Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
90+3. Wolves are going nowhere.
Except maybe Preston and Millwall next August.
Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
90. Fourth official Tony Harrington signals five minutes of stoppage time. Can Wolves rescue a valuable point, or will Arsenal's character see them through?
Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
88. Wolves are pushing but there's a lack of composure - if not talent - in the home ranks.
Raya is quickly out of his box to clear his lines with an intervention he had to get right, and then Cunha fizzes a pass too quickly into the feet of Hwang.
Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
86. Vitor Pereira's last roll of the dice is a three.
That's the number of new players he's throwing on for these final few minutes.
Goncalo Guedes, Tommy Doyle and Rodrigo Gomes are all on with Matt Doherty, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Andre being sacrificed.
Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
84. Rayan Ait-Nouri has sight of goal! Saved by David Raya!
A half-chance for the hosts as their Algerian ace gets in around the back of Gabriel, but his effort on the bounce is beaten away.
Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
82. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde's dancing feet.
The substitute tries to make room on the right by taking on two defenders, but he trips and stumbles and falls and stumbles again as he tries to reach by the byline.
Like a one-year-old learning to walk.
Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
80. Ten minutes remain at Molineux, and the atmosphere has gone a little flat among the home fans.
Chants about selling the club are being aimed at the directors' box.
Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
78. The onus is on the home side now, and Arsenal face a fight to protect their lead.
To get over the line, the Gunners are going to have to do something they haven't done since September at neighbours Tottenham and keep an away clean sheet in the Premier League.
Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
76. Vitor Pereira immediately sent for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde in response to that Arsenal goal.
The forward is on for Pablo Sarabia.
Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
74. Breakthrough! Arsenal finally find a way through Wolves, and it's a touch of class from substitute Riccardo Calafiori.
The Italian's first goal for the club was a beauty at Manchester City, and this finish is every bit as impressive for his second.
Responding to a dropping ball after a clipped right-wing cross had been headed partially clear, Calafiori connected on the half volley to arrow a shot back across Jose Sa and in off the far post.
Perfection.
Italian style!
Wolves 0-0 Arsenal
72. Arsenal smell blood now.
Who will step up and make themselves a hero?
Wolves 0-0 Arsenal
70. And there we go! Joao Gomes is sent off and both sides are down to ten men!
The Wolves man, already on a yellow card, is absolutely brainless as he goes in to challenge Jurrien Timber for a bouncing ball.
And when the Arsenal man gets there first, the result is a tackle that looks much worse than the one Myles Lewis-Skelly was dismissed for.
Michael Oliver doesn't think so, and rather than issuing a straight red card, he first shows the Brazilian a second yellow.
Either way, it's ten-a-side and 20 minutes remain.
From Jordan Davies at Molineux
Arsenal rightly feel wronged, but Kai Havertz has also missed THREE golden opportunities with his head that should have Mikel Arteta's men comfortable in this one.
Instead, they are scrapping it out.
Wolves 0-0 Arsenal
68. Wolves are certainly putting the boot in.
They've already committed 13 fouls in this match which is higher than their season average.
Wolves 0-0 Arsenal
67. Hwang takes exception to a challenge from Martinelli and responds by barging into the Brazilian off the ball.
Wolves need to be careful, and ensure they do nothing daft to wipe out their one-man advantage.
Wolves 0-0 Arsenal
64. Wolves surge straight back!
A measured strike from Cunha takes a nick off of a defender and forces Raya into full stretch in order to tip it behind.
From the corner, the ball falls to Cunha again, who somehow bobbles his snapshot wide of goal.
He really should have done better.