MATCH REPORT: Wolves 0-1 Arsenal

Joao Gomes following his dismissal during the second half by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images

Written by Jacob Jones

Wolves fall to yet another defeat, this time at home to high flying Arsenal. Riccardo Calafiori scored the games only goal. However the main talking point was red cards for both Wolves and Arsenal, Miles Lewis Skelly and Joao Gomes were the players sent for an early shower.

Perhaps unexpectedly, Vitor Pereira decided to keep the same starting eleven that left a lot to be desired last time out against Chelsea. However, Wolves fans will have been happy to see the sight of Toti Gomes who returned to the bench after a lengthy injury.

Arsenal’s team news was interesting, William Saliba who had been rumoured to miss the game through injury started the game next to Gabriel Magalhaes in the Arsenal back line. Captain, Martin Odegaard missed the game through illness.

Wolves actually had the best early chance, a fantastic drive from Nelson Semedo from deep within his own half, getting himself in a great position to cross the ball with Jorgen Strand-Larsen and Pablo Sarabia waiting in the box, an inviting ball found the Spanish attacker whose volley went high over the bar.

As we started to approach the midway point of the first half, Arsenal began to threaten a lot more, Kai Havertz having two big headed chances, one saved by Jose Sa and another that went just inches past the left post in front of the Sir Jack Hayward stand.

It could be noted that Wolves fans were rightfully voicing their frustrations towards the club’s ownership, chants such as “back the team or sell the club” rang around Molineux during the first forty-five.

Hwang Hee-Chan was introduced off the bench in the thirty second minute as Jorgen Strand Larsen went down holding his hamstring, forcing Periera to replace the Norwegian striker.

Arsenal got their first corner towards the end of the first half, in a moment that made Molineux very hesitant due to Wolves’ poor record defending set pieces and Arsenal’s impressive record scoring from corners. However, the ball was cleared at the front post and Matt Doherty attempted to begin a counter-attack when he was taken out by Miles Lewis-Skelly who was harshly shown red for the foul.

Riccardo Calafiori was brought on at half time replacing Ethan Nwaneri in a reaction to the red card. Despite having ten men, the away side had more of the ball in the early stages of the second half, winning a lot of free kicks by going down very softly in constant attempts to even the odds.

However, a spell of Wolves pressure was ignited by a long-range effort from Hwang Hee-Chan that forced a strong save from David Raya who had to get down low to deny the Korean striker. More chances followed, including two big chances for Matheus Cunha, one of which forcing another strong stop by David Raya. Pablo Sarabia also had another good chance, but he was unable to get a clean contact on the ball as it whistled along the goal line.

But disaster struck during this spell of pressure for Wolves, Joao Gomes was battling for the ball on the edge of the Arsenal box, when he lunged into a nasty challenge on the ankle of Jurrien Timber, resulting in his second yellow card.

The visitors quickly took advantage of this, after a cross from Martinelli was initially dealt with by Nelson Semedo, Calafiori was first to react to it, with a cushioned first-time finish finding its way into the back of the net after a ricochet off the post.

Wolves tried to find a way back into the game, Pereira introduced Jean Ricner Bellegarde, Tommy Doyle, Goncalo Guedes and Rodrigo Gomes but it ultimately proved ineffective. David Raya was forced into another strong save late on to keep out a lobbed attempt from Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Despite some positives to take out of today’s performance such as an impressive performance from new addition, Emanuel Agbaddou, ultimately it is yet another loss for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

MATCH REPORT: Newcastle United 3-0 Wolves 

Jorgen Strand Larsen left frustrated after his strike rattles the post. (Stu Foster/Getty Images)

Written by Jacob Jones

Wolves have slipped back into the relegation zone following a 3-0 away loss to high-flying Newcastle United courtesy of two goals from Alexander Isak and a third from Anthony Gordon.

Despite the result, it was a decent start from Vitor Pereira's men, unexpectedly seeing a lot of the ball in the first five minutes and pressing the magpies relatively high up the pitch, but it was Newcastle who got the first big chance of the game with Jacob Murphy cutting in on his left foot, forcing a strong save from Jose Sa.

Emanuel Agbadou did extremely well to keep the score at 0-0 on his Premier League debut, with a fantastic sliding block to deny Anthony Gordon, who’s shot was goal bound.

However, Wolves’ first half defensive efforts were undone when Newcastle were able to begin a counter attack following Hwang Hee-Chan  giving the ball away cheaply ; eventually finding it’s way to Alexander Isak who’s deflected shot left Jose Sa with no chance of keeping the ball out of the Wolverhampton Wanderers net. Isak has now scored in eight consecutive Premier League games.

Wolves were agonisingly close to levelling proceedings before the half time interval when a scintillating reverse ball from Rodrigo Gomes found Goncalo Guedes on the wing, Guedes’ ball found Jorgen Strand Larsen who’s shot ricocheted off the post, possibly Wolves’ best chance of the game.

Star player Matheus Cunha was introduced at half-time, replacing Hwang Hee-Chan who’s first half performance left a lot to be desired. Matheus was introduced in predominantly on the left-hand side of attack but could be seen drifting into the middle of the park as he looked to once again salvage something.

But it was the magpies who would strike next, capitalising on an apparent miscommunication in the Wolves defence as Matt Doherty seemed to step out unaccompanied by his centre-back partners. This allowed Bruno Guimares to find Alexander Isak with a simple pass, allowing the Swiss striker to fire home from around ten yards out.

Cunha almost got one back for Wolves, his strike from the edge of the box whistled just past the post, worrying a diving Dubravka.

Emauel Agbadou found himself miles out of position for Newcastle’s third, then becoming a scramble for him to get back, by which point Anthony Gordon had already slotted the ball home to make it 3-0. There was however an inquest into the goal with the possibility of Isak potentially being offside before playing the ball to Gordon for the goal. However, VAR deemed him to be onside.

Vitor Periera will be pleased with how his team continued to push at 3-0 down. Jorgen Strand Larsen came cross to scoring once again but he was denied by a strong Martin Dubravka save, pushing the ball onto the bar. In fact, Wolves did have the ball in the back of the net through Santiago Bueno, but the goal was bizarrely ruled out for handball despite Tonali having hold of the Wolves defender’s arm.

Overall, the score line may have possibly flattered Newcastle, but Vitor and his squad have no time to be disheartened as focus quickly shifts to Monday’s away trip to Stamford Bridge.