A captain’s performance from Norwegian star Martin Ødegaard was the difference maker on a night away for capital against Wolves as Mikel Arteta’s young table-topping Arsenal outfit secured a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Martin Odegaard’s brace sends Arsenal five points clear at Christmas pic.twitter.com/rLBu5OoIAh
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 12, 2022
Ødegaad bagged a brace – taking him to six in the league this season while making him the club’s leading scorer – in a credible team performance against bottom-dwelling Wolves that has pushed the club to its best-ever start to a league campaign after fourteen matches in its illustrious history.
With many of Arteta’s trusted assets on their way to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in a matter of hours if not day, it was still business as usual for Arsenal who looked to pounce on a hiccup from Manchester City at home after Pep Guardiola’s holding champions played out a 2-1 loss against visiting Brentford.
Martin Ødegaard’s game by numbers vs Wolves:
100% shot accuracy
100% dribble success
7 final third entries
7 possession won
3 shots
2 duels won
2 goals
1.17 xGLeading by example. ©️ pic.twitter.com/hBREu421aQ
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 12, 2022
For Arsenal and its supporters, the continued results being garnered in 2022-23 under Arteta in a project that required patience and time have begun to really stand the test of time. Ten of thirteen clubs that have gone into Christmas topping the Premier League have gone on to win the league, while no club has ever failed to do the same after securing 37-points from fourteen league outings.
Everything has now aligned for Arsenal to go on and end a Premier League drought dating back to 2003-04, while Wolves continue to languish at the bottom of the table and will be hoping seasoned new manager Julen Lopetegui can kick-start a great escape for the storied Molineux outfit once play resumes after Boxing Day.
📰 Table Of Contents
Wolves Player Ratings
GK: José Sá (6)
RCB: Max Kilman (6)
CB: Nathan Collins (6)
LCB: Toti (6.5)
LB: Hugo Bueno (7)
RCM: Boubacar Traoré (7)
CM: Rúben Neves (6.5)
RCM: João Moutinho (6)
RF: Adama Traoré (7)
LF: Gonçalo Guedes (6.5)
Sub: Daniel Podence (6.5)
Sub: Dexter Lembikisa (6)
Sub: Matheus Nunes (6)
Arsenal Player Ratings
GK: Aaron Ramsdale (7) – Another clean sheet for Ramsdale this season for Arsenal in another good performance for the World Cup-bound shot-stopper. Luckily his collision with Traoré was nothing serious.
RB: Ben White (7) – The evolution of Ben White into a starting right-back for Arsenal has been lovely to witness and a real reason why he is included in Southgate’s England squad. He was good again.
CB: William Saliba (6) – A performance that the French youngster will want to put behind him especially with the World Cup coming up. He struggled in most ways today, and certainly, that has not been the norm.
CB: Gabriel Magalhães (7) – Saliba has justifiably drawn much of the plaudits in defense this season, and though Gabriel has also won his fair share, he still falls down the praise pecking order much of the time. He was good today, as he is every week.
LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko (7) – Back into the XI after returning fully fit and looks to be the player that Arsenal first relied on when he arrived in the summer. Good throughout from the Ukrainian.
CM: Thomas Partey (7) – The Gunners are a different animal with the Ghanaian midfield veteran is in the matchday XI and it showed here once again tonight. His influence is undeniable.
CM: Granit Xhaka (N/A) – Completed just 16-minutes before being removed for what first appearances looked to be like an illness rather than any fitness concern.
CAM: Martin Ødegaard (8.5) – A captain’s performance that led by example this evening for the Gunners after Ødegaard bagged a brace to take his tally to six in the league; a club best. Top stuff from him once again.
RW: Bukayo Saka (7) – Quiet on the scoresheet but no doubt influential despite it. His head will solely be focused on England at the World Cup, a tournament he deserves to witness on merit.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli (7) – Ecstatic to be on the plane with the Brazil squad and his efforts that got him there were evident again here; a press machine, composed on the ball, and always a threat going forward.
CF: Gabriel Jesus (7) – Had a goal pulled back for offside but it was once again made undeniably clear that Jesus elevates Arsenal on the pitch with his all-action displays. He hit the woodwork as well. The goals will come, but he remains influential.
Sub: Fábio Vieira (7) – Came on as a sub for an ill Granit Xhaka and bagged an assist, before being removed a few minutes before full-time. On balance, one of his better overall performances for Arsenal.
Sub: Reiss Nelson (N/A) – Part of a trio of stoppage time changes in the second half.
Sub: Mohamed Elneny (N/A) – Part of a trio of stoppage time changes in the second half.
Sub: Cédric Soares (N/A) – Part of a trio of stoppage time changes in the second half.
Social Media
“The noise and the focus has to be on that pitch”
Mikel Arteta talks ahead of clash with Wolves. pic.twitter.com/gxITLVFFkJ
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 12, 2022
The squad arrives at Molineux 👋 pic.twitter.com/C4PM6qsYyU
— Wolves (@Wolves) November 12, 2022
Arsenal team is out. Unchanged from Chelsea win last Sunday.
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) November 12, 2022
Xhaka hunched over after a couple of minutes. Not sure if he’s feeling ill or something. Physio with him now.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) November 12, 2022
Xhaka’s night is over with 15 minutes on the clock.
He’d been struggling from the very opening stages – Vieira on to replace him in midfield.
LIVE: https://t.co/W4cqblqKZK#WOLARS pic.twitter.com/qFDnA5tBrl
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) November 12, 2022
“It’s TERRIBLE from VAR!” 😳
Should Wolves have had a penalty? 🐺🟠 pic.twitter.com/5US6WXd9x8
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 12, 2022
Sky said VAR did look at it, which makes it even more inexplicable. We weren’t alerted to a VAR check in the ground, which we usually would be. #WWFC
— Steve Madeley (@SteveMadeley78) November 12, 2022
Fabio Vieira passes the ball across goal for Martin Odegaard to tap in.#WOLARS | #Arsenal | #WWFC
🎥 @SkySportsPL pic.twitter.com/MPto6rVsvu
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) November 12, 2022
We make a double change.#WOLARS pic.twitter.com/rSxlFIwSpH
— Wolves (@Wolves) November 12, 2022
Martin Ødegaard is putting on a show ☄️
(via @NBCSportsSoccer)pic.twitter.com/Dkh8iLe0AY
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 12, 2022
One of the biggest positives tonight is Boubacar Traore. Really growing in confidence in possession. Unrecognisable from the awkward figure of a few weeks ago. Drags a shot wide with 8 minutes to play. #WWFC
— Steve Madeley (@SteveMadeley78) November 12, 2022
I must say it makes me proud that a Norwegian is captain at Arsenal – at a team that is now chasing for the title
Martin Ødegaard is a fantastic ambassador for Arsenal and his country 🇳🇴
— Jan Aage Fjørtoft 🏳️🌈 🇳🇴 💛💙 (@JanAageFjortoft) November 12, 2022
This is Arsenal’s best record after 14 league games in the club’s history!
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) November 12, 2022
