Arteta unhappy as Wolves touch raw nerves

Arsenal's defence, what had looked like the best in Europe, has begun to look vulnerable, particularly late in matches.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described his side's performance in the victory over Wolves as "uncceptable". Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Premier League: Arsenal 2 Wolves 1

MIKEL Arteta has seldom been so angry after a match. A win is a win, but it took two own goals to defeat the poorest team in the Premier League, and for long spells it felt as though Arsenal’s title hopes were hanging in the balance despite them sitting top of the table with the season not yet halfway through.

Is the pressure already getting to Arsenal, their manager, and their supporters? Possibly. The burden on this crop of talent to end a 21-year wait for the most competitive league in the world weighs heavily in north London. Everyone is invested, on and off the pitch, with every moment analysed to the nth degree.

Arteta’s own intense desire to end Arsenal’s title pursuit may be part of the problem, but there was also a sense he knows precisely when to loosen the reins. His response to this below-par performance was not to summon his players for extra training or a forensic video inquest, but to give the squad two days off.

That message was welcomed by key figures such as Bukayo Saka, who was at the heart of most of the good Arsenal produced against Wolves. “It’s going to be nice,” Saka said. “It’s been a really, really busy schedule. Credit to all the boys and the staff because we’ve been so intense. It’s nice that we have a bit of a break, but it’s not time to relax – it’s a time to reset and then go again next week and be ready for Everton.”

Training, as Saka alluded to, has for some time been little more than a 20-minute warm-up and warm-down. For the past couple of months, some players have barely done more than watch and recover, preparing themselves for a relentless three-matches-a-week schedule that has stretched back to the November international break. There will be little chance of a mid-season warm-weather escape either, with Arsenal still pursuing the Premier League, Champions League and both domestic cups.

Arteta branded Arsenal's performance "unacceptable", adding: "It was a relief, but we have a very clear understanding that the margins should have been bigger. We generated more chances in the second half, but after that we had a period of two or three minutes in deep, totally passive, with horrible defensive habits that are nowhere near the levels required.

"The first time they had an opportunity to score they did. Fortunately, we are relieved because we managed to score at the end and win it. That is positive, but we should have stopped the shots before and that is on us.

"We knew it would not be an easy game, but we made it even harder and more difficult with what we did, and the manner that we conceded the goal, and that is unacceptable."

What had looked like the best defence in Europe, one threatening to rewrite records, has begun to look vulnerable, particularly late in matches. Points were dropped with a late concession at Sunderland, there was a last-kick defeat at Aston Villa, and Wolves came agonisingly close to snatching a draw here when they levelled in the 90th minute.

The common thread is that Arsenal appear increasingly intent on seeing games out rather than playing with the calm authority of a side convinced it will win from strong positions. That tendency towards caution has invited pressure and, at times, panic.

It would be easy to attribute those issues solely to injuries in defence. The most settled partnership, with Gabriel Magalhaes alongside William Saliba, has not featured together since the win at Newcastle at the end of September. The extent of Ben White’s hamstring injury, sustained here, should become clear on Monday, while Gabriel is not expected back until January at the earliest. Arteta, for now, must keep shuffling his pack.

Further up the pitch, the Arsenal manager continues to field questions about Viktor Gyokeres. The striker could yet come good and has been affected by injuries during a period when Arsenal’s attacking options have been stretched thin. Six goals is a respectable return and his presence allows Arsenal to play more directly than when they operate without a recognisable No 9, but full adaptation to the Premier League remains a work in progress.

The coming weeks promise little respite and may go a long way towards defining Arsenal’s season. A run of demanding Premier League fixtures awaits, against opponents capable of causing problems if complacency creeps in. There is also the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace just before Christmas, another test in an already punishing calendar.

For all the unease, the problems Arsenal face are far from insurmountable. They remain top of the table, in contention on multiple fronts, and firmly on course to achieve their aims. Nights like this may yet be remembered not as warning signs, but as awkward victories that champions so often need along the way.

ARSENAL: Raya 7, White 6 (Lewis-Skelly 31), Timber 7, Saliba 6, Hincapie 6, Zubimendi 5 (Merino 58) Rice 6, Eze 5 (Odegaard 58), Martinelli 6 (Trossard 58), Saka 7, Gyokeres 5 (Jesus 81). Subs: Arrizabalaga, Norgaard, Madueke, Nwaneri.

WOLVES: Johnstone 7, Doherty 6 (Tchatchoua 69), Agbadou 6, Toti 6, Mosquera 6, Wolfe 6, Krejci 6 (Lopez 80), Joao Gomes 6 (Mane 86), Andre 6, Hwang 6 (Arias 80), Strand Larsen 5 (Arokodare 69). Subs: Sa, Bueno, Chirewa, Hoever.

Referee: Robert Jones 6 Att: 60,242