Arsenal started their Premier League season with a solid win at the Emirates Stadium beating Wolves with flair and grit. The Gunners seemed more at ease in the first half camping out in the visitors’ end for most of the opening 45 minutes and making Jose Sa work three times before the clock hit 20. It took 25 minutes for Kai Havertz to score his first goal of the season kicking off Arsenal’s tally as he headed in a classic cross from Bukayo Saka.
The start of second half saw lapse in plays from the Arsenal players. Wolves improved but couldn’t break through Arsenal’s relentless offense. The Gunners scored again, this time with Havertz setting up Saka for a well-placed curling shot. This win not only starts their season on the right foot but also shows they are ready to face upcoming challenges.
Here is what we learned after the match…
Havertz On The Scoresheet
Havertz needed time to adjust to the Premier League. He had trouble making an impact at Chelsea for three seasons after joining from Bayer Leverkusen, and also took a while to settle in after moving to Arsenal from across London.
In 2024 though, he has found his groove recapturing the form that made people see him as one of Europe’s most promising players many years ago. This year, he has scored or assisted a goal every 94 minutes on average in the Premier League, which is quite good. He also netted both his first goal and Arsenal’s first goal of the season.
Scoring one goal and setting up another, while threatening the defence, Havertz has kicked off what could be a huge season. His link-up with Saka is great to watch, each helping the other score before and after halftime. This duo will give defenders across the league a hard time. If he keeps this form, the German might end up competing for the top scorer award.
Raya Proving Haters Wrong
Since grabbing the top spot from Aaron Ramsdale last year and cementing his place through a permanent transfer, David Raya has become essential to this Arsenal team. The Spanish keeper elicited mixed opinions among fans last season but may have earned their trust now. He made a vital close-range save to stop Wolves from levelling the score. His performances will play a big part in Arsenal’s push for the title.
Can Zinchenko Retain His Starting Spot?
At 27, Oleksandr Zinchenko faces a make-or-break season. Will he show his value to Arteta’s Arsenal, or will he leave for a new team? The match against Wolves did not give a clear answer. He had a decent game but did not stand out. Arteta took him off for Jurrien Timber just before 70 minutes had passed.
Playing at left-back, the Ukraine international had a mixed game. He moved into midfield when his team had the ball, which helped Arsenal start attacks. But he made several mistakes and lost control of the ball often. He didn’t complete any crosses, and only half of his long passes reached their targets. With new signing Riccardo Calafiori ready to play, Zinchenko might go back to being a backup player if he doesn’t play well before the September international break.
Arsenal Pressing Game
Arsenal’s high pressing was a key part of their game. It limited Wolves’ chances to build up play from the back and created many chances to score. The constant pressure made Wolves mess up a lot. This shows how good Arsenal’s tactics have become under Mikel Arteta.
Besides pressing, Martin Odegaard took a long shot in the second half. Jose Sa made a great save to stop it. This showed that Arsenal can attack in different ways and that Odegaard can shoot well from far away.
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