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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

Arsenal set new club record in vital Wolves win but one key problem remains

After the week Arsenal have just had, this was exactly what the doctor ordered.

A 2-0 win over Wolves moves the Gunners back to the Premier League summit and, suddenly, the dark clouds have been lifted.

It was a dogged performance from Arsenal, who dug deep to bounce back from successive defeats by Bayern Munich and Aston Villa.

All that mattered here at Molineux was three points - and that is exactly what Mikel Arteta’s side left with.

Trossard to the rescue, again

Arteta said that Arsenal were “lucky” to have weeks like this, so perhaps he knew what was coming this evening.

There was certainly more than a hint of fortune about Leandro Trossard’s opening goal, which came just before half-time.

The Belgian’s strike was one that found the top corner, however whether he meant it or not only he will know.

The replays suggested there was a hint of fortune about it, with the ball coming right off the side of Trossard’s boot.

Not that Arsenal or Arteta will care one bit, and it was just the latest example of Trossard showing his worth for this team.

Only Bukayo Saka has scored more goals for Arsenal this season than the Belgian, who has coped with being played in multiple positions and coming in and out of the team.

He started here and repaid Arteta for his faith. Another start against Chelsea on Tuesday could be just around the corner.

Arsenal’s defence breaks record

In desperate need of a win, it should have come as no surprise that Arsenal got it thanks to their defence.

The Gunners’ hot streaks in front of goal have come in fits and starts, but one thing that has remained consistent is their defensive steel.

Indeed, keeping Wolves out here means Arsenal have earned a clean sheet in six consecutive away League matches for the first time in their history.

Truth be told, this was a Wolves attack that helped them do it. Without star attackers Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto, they looked light up top and offered very little.

Their only real chances came from the odd lapse in concentration from Arsenal - which were few and far between in the second half.

Left-back an area of concern

Wolves got very little joy in this game but, when they did, it invariably came down Arsenal’s left flank.

The Gunners have had a solid defence all season, however left-back has been a problem position even during that time.

Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu have all had runs in the side, but none of them have made the role their own.

Tomiyasu has been plagued by fitness issues and he missed this game after picking up a knock during Wednesday’s defeat in Munich.

That allowed Kiwior the chance to start, but the Poland international had a difficult evening. On more than one occasion, Wolves got down his side and David Raya was forced into a brilliant save from Joao Gomes to spare his blushes.

The obvious solution to Arsenal’s issues there is Jurrien Timber and he is due to step up his recovery next week by playing for the club’s under-23 side. His return will be a big boost.

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