Gunners earn bruising win at Molineux

Wolves 1 Arsenal 3

Thierry Henry inspired Arsenal to go one better than their title rivals and escape from a bruising encounter at Molineux with their heads held high.

The Frenchman’s 58th-minute strike finished off a brave Wolves challenge which had threatened to deny the Gunners a record-breaking 24th unbeaten game from the start of the season.

Where Manchester United had capitulated under intense home pressure three weeks ago, Arsene Wenger’s stars turned on the style and ultimately eased home with their status as England’s top team secure.

Wolves’ Romanian striker Vio Ganea had scored his first Premiership goal in the 25th minute to cancel out Dennis Bergkamp’s ninth-minute opener and give the spirited home side hope.

Carl Cort and Denis Irwin both came close to fashioning another famous scalp but just when the visitors seemed at their weakest Henry needed one chance to blaze forward and slide the ball under Paul Jones.

Four minutes later Kolo Toure finished off a move involving Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira to give the Gunners a winning margin which scarcely hinted at their first half tribulations.

Wolves saw their unbeaten Premiership run at Molineux come to an end after over four months but can take credit from a spirited display.

Their win over United was still reverberating around a raucous Molineux as Dave Jones’ men started with justifiable confidence.

Carl Cort made an early impression on his home debut for a side boosted by the recovery of inspirational midfielder Alex Rae from a calf strain.

But the league leaders eased into gear and took the lead with a goal of pure quality.

Edu and Ashley Cole combined superbly down the Gunners right before Cole fed Bergkamp who fired home sweetly with his left foot.

Briefly the Gunners threatened to repeat Chelsea’s landslide 5-0 victory back in September, Wolves’ last home league defeat.

Henry’s audacious 13th-minute effort from tight on the left was flapped away by Paul Jones and Lauren shot across the face of goal.

But Wolves showed how much their confidence has grown since those dismal early days back in the top flight by hustling for every ball and beginning to unsettle the visitors.

Irwin came close to snatching an equaliser with a curling free-kick which flashed just wide of Jens Lehmann’s right-hand upright.

Mark Kennedy also caused problems down the right before winning the 25th-minute corner which led to his side’s equaliser.

Colin Cameron’s well-placed set-piece was headed down in the box by Jody Craddock and Ganea pounced to fire a rising shot into the net – then promptly get booked for jumping into the crowd.

The Romanian’s goal sparked a tumultuous end to the first half with Bergkamp booked for apparently diving under Irwin’s challenge.

Wolves keeper Jones saved Irwin’s fine shot while at the other end Cameron got the better of Campbell to set Cort clear but his weak shot was turned around the post by Lehmann.

Ganea came close to grabbing his second while Bergkamp had another chance in injury time at the end of the half but Jones stood up to save.

Irwin went close to putting Wolves ahead in the 51st minute when he whipped another dangerous 30-yard free-kick which landed on the roof of Lehmann’s net.

But just as the Gunners were beginning to look unsettled, Henry gave them breathing space by picking up Pires’ pass on the right and sliding the ball home under the advancing Jones.

Toure’s header eased any remaining fears for Wenger’s side that they would travel back south without three points.

The replacement of Bergkamp for Jose Reyes gave the Gunners newboy the chance to atone for a traumatic first week in which he scored an own goal against Middlesbrough then suffered a serious mouth infection.

He scampered across the half-way line in the 73rd minute before unselfishly squaring the ball for Henry, but Jones got there first to save Wolves further embarrassment.