On the Whistle: Wolves 0-2 Arsenal - "A second wind for the season?"

Hello guys, full time at Molyneux, Wolves 0 Arsenal 2. Gotta say that is a terrific result in these circumstances. I'm really impressed with the team for showing that fortitude, for showing that stamina. After the week they've had to go there and win and be dominant, I think they really were dominant, is mightily impressive and I've got to be honest and say I'm not sure I fully expected it. I know that we're the better team than Wolves but I just thought maybe events of the past few days would catch up with them here. We've seen them looking a bit leggy, we saw them looking very dejected on the pitch at the Allianz Arena a few days ago. I think refocusing after that is difficult but they managed it and it's a big moment, it's a big moment because I think anything less than a win today and the obituaries would be being written for Arsenal's season. As it is, we go back top of the league against Chelsea on Tuesday night. We have the opportunity to go four points clear, albeit with our title rivals having the games in hand. I'm delighted to see us get that result. As I say, I thought we were dominant. I know on Sky they've said Wolves have pushed Arsenal all the way. It really didn't feel like that to me. I think Arsenal in truth should have been out of sight well before they got the second goal. That made the scoreline I think appropriate for the one-sided game it was but the fact that it took so long to get that second goal, I think that is a theme that we'll return to with this team. When you consider the possession they had, the territory they had, some of the positions that they worked for themselves in the final third, they should have killed this game far earlier than they did, in my opinion. They did eventually get that goal in stoppage time but it could have been a much easier evening's work had they got it earlier in the game. Arsenal made a few changes. We saw Leandro Trossard come in, Gabriel Jesus came in, Jakob Kivio came in, Tommy Assu injured again. I know the club are saying it's a precaution but really frustrating to see him out again. I'm sure Mikel Arteta feels a bit exasperated to be honest with that situation. Kai Havertz dropped into midfield. I thought he had a really good game, I must say. He worked incredibly hard. We'll go through the team perhaps towards the end of the video. I should say out of the way, I'm on holiday. If you don't recognise this background, it's a slightly different audio visual setup today as well. I'm away in Spain at the present point in time but I still thought why not do a quick video for you guys because I think it is such a good win. First goal Leandro Trossard. Did he mean it? Did he not? I think I'm edging towards thinking he did mean it. Two reasons. One, it's kind of the shot that's on. We know he's got lots of different finishes in his locker and two, the way he wheels away in celebration to me is indicative of a player who did what they wanted in that moment. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm being too generous to him because I think he's a good finisher. Maybe it's a complete slice but I don't know. I think he struck across that ball quite deliberately. I think it is a slice but I think it may well be intentional. I'm sure he will claim it is after the game. I saw some doing an interview for Sky so perhaps they'll get an answer out of him but I think he meant that and it came at a great time just before half time. Listen, we scored goals right at the end of each half so it shows that even though perhaps we could have put Wolves to the sword a little earlier than we did, we had great persistence and we kept working hard right until stopping time essentially in both halves. Let's talk about the team back to front. So David Raya, I thought had a really good game today. One sort of slice clearance off his left foot but otherwise really calm, really composed, made some important claims on crosses. Another clean sheet for him. I think it's six consecutive away clean sheets for this team. 13 clean sheets in the Premier League for Raya. I think he's going to win the Golden Glove. I've said it for some time, this is the best defensive team in the league and he's been a part of that over the last few months in a big way. Jakub Kivio, sticky moments I have to say. He really looks increasingly like a guy who's playing out of position, centre-back playing at left-back. Has he got the potential to really push on in that position and be a serious option there next season? I don't think so. It was interesting to hear Mkhitaryan say he wants to use Jurijan Timber as a left-back and a right-back when he's fit. I think we knew that anyway but yeah I think Kivio, if he does have a future at Arsenal it's going to be as a centre-half. Saliba and Gabriel were good again. I thought Saliba had one moment in the second half where he took a bit of time on the ball, made me a little bit nervous but he just showed his composure and his quality. Ben White, his energy levels are extraordinary given the fact that he's playing with his knees strapped up. I take my hat off to him. Declan Rice, well when this game got to the last five or ten minutes Declan Rice just took over and suddenly every loose ball he was hoovering it up. I think he effectively created Martin Odegaard's goal for him as well but in that stoppage time period what he was doing was extraordinary. When you consider the minutes that he's played this season, the fact he's looked a little bit fatigued in the last couple of games, I was so impressed by what he produced in the final stages of the game. Kai Havertz I spoke about briefly worked really hard as well. Again a lot of minutes in those legs. He must be one of the fittest players in the club because they keep picking him. He keeps playing long periods of games. You've got to say he works exceptionally hard. Martin Odegaard got his goal, very nice finish on the follow-up, had his moments. I feel like Arsenal's combination play on the edge of the box didn't quite come off. There was a lot of really nice stuff. I'll talk about Trossard and Saka and Jesus, the front three who I thought all had flashes of skill, neat combination play but then just didn't quite make the last pass or maybe didn't make the right selection. That's what Arsenal were doing in February, March when they were putting five or six past people. People might scoff at this because Wolves weren't bad but I think the Arsenal we were watching in February would score three or four on a night like this at minimum but things aren't quite clicking to quite the same extent in attack at this point in time. But we've got the win, that is the crucial thing and it sets up a big game against Chelsea and it sets up the running. I feel like it could give these players a second win which I think is exactly what they need. I'm going to leave it there because I've had a very long day traveling with a toddler which is challenging as I'm sure you're aware and I'll try and get one of these to you on Tuesday. I'll be back home in London in time for the North London Derby so I'll definitely speak to you then if not Tuesday. All right guys, take care, bye.