Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed frustration with his players following a narrow 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. He highlighted the team’s “horrible defensive habits,” which he believed made the win feel less secure than it should have been.
The Gunners took the lead in the 70th minute thanks to an unfortunate own goal from Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. However, the match took a dramatic turn as Tolu Arokodare equalized for the visitors in the 90th minute. Just when it seemed Arsenal might drop points, Yerson Mosquera inadvertently headed the ball into his own net in stoppage time, securing a last-minute victory for the league leaders.
Arteta conveyed his relief, but he was clear that the team should have won by a larger margin. “After not being precise enough in the first half with the amount of situations that we generated inside the opposition box, we failed to capitalize on those opportunities,” he remarked. He urged his players to recognize the need for improvement, especially after they allowed Wolverhampton to score on their first attempt on goal.
Currently, Arsenal is at the top of the Premier League table with 36 points, aiming to break a three-year streak of finishing second. As the fixtures become more demanding during the Christmas period, Arteta emphasized the importance of learning from this hard-fought victory. He reminded his squad to celebrate their accomplishment while also acknowledging the challenges they faced.
Looking ahead, Arsenal will confront Everton in their next match on Saturday, and Arteta’s focus remains on ensuring his players adapt their gameplay to meet the demands of the league.