Prior to this match against Wolves, Arsenal hadn’t been in action for over two weeks - but come the final whistle it felt like they’d never been away.
Mikel Arteta described the three points, which lifted Arsenal up to fifth in the Premier League, as “a good summary of who we are today”, and it is hard to disagree given this performance had many of the hallmarks we’ve come to expect from this team.
There were the flashes of brilliance from youngsters like Bukayo Saka, clear evidence Arsenal need to sign a new striker and plenty of defensive grit.
Worryingly, the trend of a lack of discipline was also apparent as Gabriel Martinelli took the number of red cards since Mikel Arteta was appointed to 15. In that same period Southampton have collected the second most, but their tally only stands at seven.
“We have some really good players but we were sometimes inconsistent,” said Arteta.
“We scored a good goal and we had total control in one action that all started from a free-kick, where we are in control, and we are a bit naive and we end up with 10 men for 20 minutes.
“But after that, the character and the resilience and the courage and togetherness that the team showed, it’s all about us now.”
Of the red cards Arsenal have amassed under Arteta, last night’s was certainly one of the harshest.
It all unfolded with around 20 minutes to go when Martinelli pushed Daniel Podence as he tried to take a throw-in. Play resumed and, as Martinelli raced back, he brought down Chiquinho to stop Wolves countering.
Referee Michael Oliver duly booked Martinelli twice in a matter of seconds, once for each offence, and the winger was given his marching orders. Arteta and his staff were incredulous on the sidelines, with the Spaniard adding after he had never seen a dismissal like that in his career.
“I think you have to be pretty willing to give a red card in that situation,” he said.
Arteta wants talks with the PGMOL, the governing body for referees, over last night and other decisions, but he needs to speak to his own players, too. 15 red cards is clear proof of a discipline issue and Arsenal cannot let it derail their top-four hopes.
“We know that playing with 10 men in this league you’re not going to get points, enough points, the points that we want and we have to stop it,” said Arteta.
Ultimately, Martinelli’s red card did not stop Arsenal getting the job done last night. Prior to the winger’s dismissal they had looked in control, with Gabriel giving them the lead in the first-half by poking home from a corner.
Lacazette had three chances too, and another golden one after Martinelli had been sent off, but Wolves, in contrast, created very little.
The red card gave them hope, though, and Arsenal were forced to put their bodies on the line for the final 20 minutes. Rob Holding, brought on for Saka after Martinelli’s dismissal, led the rearguard and made nine clearances in that time, three more than any other player managed in the whole game.
Arsenal celebrated wildly at full-time, prompting Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves to quip: “It was like they won the league”.
In reality, it was an indication of how vital the three points felt for Arsenal, who are now fifth and just two points behind West Ham in fourth, but crucially with two games in hand.
Suddenly, the prospect of Champions League qualification really looks on the cards. Arsenal just need to make sure their trend of defensive grit continues - and not their lack of discipline.
