Wolves level with Gunners before break

Arsenal 1 Wolves 1

Wolves battled back to hold Arsenal to 1-1 at half-time of this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners, looking to go back into the top four, were ahead after just eight minutes through Gervinho.

However, Wolves, struggling at the other end of the table, rallied and levelled on 38 minutes through Steven Fletcher after Arsenal failed to clear a corner.

Because of a full-back injury crisis, Johan Djourou again slotted in on the right, but was soon caught out of position as Matthew Jarvis got clear, with Per Mertesacker coming across to make a timely block.

After surviving another ball across their six-yard box, Arsenal broke quickly to take the lead in the eighth minute.

Rosicky fed Benayoun, whose pass split the Wolves defence as Gervinho beat the offside trap to race clear.

The Ivory Coast frontman, set to soon be away at the African Nations Cup, waited for keeper Wayne Hennessey to commit himself, before cutting back inside and then rolling the ball into the net between the two defenders on the line.

Wolves looked in danger of being overrun, as following their positive start, the visitors were forced to defend deeper and deeper.

Gervinho darted clear again and fed van Persie on the right side of the penalty area, but for once the Dutchman’s radar was off as he skewed the ball well wide of the far post.

Benayoun, on loan from Chelsea, was producing an all-action display and charged down the left – only to stumble over the ball when in the penalty area.

Van Persie continued to look for the opening, his chip headed over by Wolves defender Stephen Ward.

There was a brief stoppage when Wolves defender Ronald Zubar needed treatment after being caught in the face by Thomas Vermaelen’s boot as the Belgian cleared the ball.

To their credit, Wolves had weathered the storm somewhat, only to then almost hit the self-destruct button when skipper Karl Henry lost the ball to Van Persie. He fed Rosicky on the edge of the box who in turn laid a pass off to Mikel Arteta and his angled drive was blocked by Ward.

Van Persie then saw his low strike turned around the post by Hennessey.

On 31 minutes, Roger Johnson was shown a yellow card by referee Stuart Attwell for sliding in to clip the Dutchman as he charged towards the penalty area, with Christophe Berra the covering defender.

Arteta chipped the free-kick over the wall but it lacked any real pace and was comfortably collected by the Wolves keeper.

Out of nothing, Wolves were level on 38 minutes. Arsenal failed to clear a corner, which Stephen Hunt lobbed back in. His shot was deflected and Fletcher - played onside by Alex Song – guided a header into the far corner.

Arsenal immediately went on the offensive, but Wolves were more confident and calmly saw their way through to half-time.