"Back to business" Arsenal struggles, Wolves win to reach top

Arsenal shook off the disappointment of their Champions League exit with a 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday to return to the top of the Premier League. Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard scored at the end of each half to put the Gunners one point ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand. After three games without a win, Arsenal’s season is in danger of being completely derailed. Mikel Arteta’s side suffered their first Premier League defeat of 2024 last weekend, as they were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich and lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa.

However, their rebound continued to put pressure on champions Manchester City, who beat Chelsea 1-0 earlier on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final.

“We achieved a huge victory,” Arsenal captain Odegaard said.

“It’s been a tough week for us with few tough results and very difficult emotionally but we have to keep working hard. The focus today was on bouncing back and getting the win.

“There’s still a long way to go and the competition is still tight, so the focus today is to get back to business.”

Arteta made just three changes from a side that lost 1-0 in Munich on Wednesday, with the slumping visitors taking some time to find their form.

Wolves coach Gary O’Neill claims the team has suffered the worst injury crisis of his career.

However, the short-handed hosts almost took the lead when David Raya was forced to tip Joao Gomes’ powerful shot over the crossbar.

Although Arsenal dominated possession, they only produced a brief threat before the break.

But they had the fortune they needed to begin their challenge for a first title in 20 years on 45 minutes when Trossard’s shot deflected wide of the far post.

Arsenal were tired in their fourth game in 11 days and there was little action on goal in the second period.

However, without the threat of injured Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto, Wolves lack the attacking inspiration to further dent their title aspirations.

Five minutes into stoppage time, Odegaard sealed the deal by latching on to Jose Sa at the near post.

Third-placed Liverpool can tie Arsenal on points when they travel to Fulham on Sunday.

Luton conceded five goals

At the bottom of the table, Luton’s survival hopes were dealt a blow by Brentford’s 5-1 defeat at Kenilworth Road.

Luton suffered their heaviest home defeat in the league this season, leaving the Hatters one point behind Nottingham Forest, who travel to Everton at the bottom of the table on Sunday.

“It’s a bad day for us as a club but the teams above us are playing against each other and we’re not going to quit this weekend. It’s important that we all remember that,” Luton manager Rob Edwards said.

Brentford secured their top-flight status with a dominant performance despite missing England striker Ivan Toney through injury.

Yoane Wissa scored twice before half-time, while Ethan Pinnock, Keane Lewis-Potter and Kevin Shedd (Kevin Schade) also scored for the Bees.

Burnley beat bottom-placed Sheffield United 4-1 and are now just two points away from Luton and three points away from relegation.

The Blades are destined to go straight back to the Champions League due to poor defence.

Goals from Jakob Bruun Larsen, Lorenz Assingoon, Lyle Forster and Johan Gudmundsson helped Burnley win with just five games remaining. Down, leaving Chris Wilder’s side 10 points adrift of safety.

“I’m not going to name names, but I think there were some players who wanted to get out of there pretty quickly after the fourth one came in,” Wilder said. “You just can’t have (that).”

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