For three quarters of the match thoughts turned to Arteta’s pre-match -press conference where he said Arsenal didn’t get players in the last window as none would improve the quality of the squad.
Looked like a dose of pragmatism and practicality was needed in the face of ideological purity, as like the last game Arsenal struggled in front of goal.
But then a tactical switch, swapping a defender for a forward and getting an extra man in the penalty area did the trick.
And five minutes earlier, the substitution may have revealed a ‘secret weapon’ for the rest of the season – a rejuvenated Nicolas Pepe.
A rejuvenated Nicolas Pepe – secret weapon for rest of season?
Celebrations following the win a fortnight ago needled some of the Wolves contingent with Ruben Neves saying it looked like Arsenal had won the Champions League.
The Midlands club’s victory at Tottenham would have given them an extra confidence boost, despite losing unluckily to Leicester last time out. They are a better away side than home, with the third best defence in the league. As a neutral there is much to admire about Wolves.
They changed to a 3-4-3 from the start, with Hwang in for Dendonker. Thoughts go out for Maximillian Kilman who is a Ukranian national.
Martinelli was back for Smith Rowe who was ill. Hutchinson and Swanson were on the bench.
Wolves played a high line inviting Arsenal to run in behind. But were sharp from the start and pressed high.
Martinelli was bundled over by Kilman in the box, but the ref Martin Atkinson (2 red cards, three losses and a penalty against Arsenal this season) saw nothing wrong.
Wolves were rewarded early on for their quick press as Jiminez hassled Gabriel into a short and blind back pass to Ramsdale. Hwang knocked it in from an acute angle.
It is over three years, and forty-five games since Wolves have taken the lead and lost. Arsenal have lost all four games this season when they have conceded first. Does history repeat itself? It was their fifth error leading directly to a goal this season.
It should have been game over as the diminutive Podence, who reminds of Eden Hazard sent a defence splitting ball to Jiminez in a central position in the Arsenal area, but the Mexican sent it wide.
The die was cast, with Wolves sitting back, relying on their defence and quick counters and Arsenal attempting to shift the block and get a man clear.
Lacazette was clear set up by Saka, but he shot wide; Saka set up Odegaard, but it was blocked by Saiss; Odegaard found Lacazette, but he was too slow; Saka was set free, but he too delayed the shot. Tierney set up Lacazette, but his shot hit Kilman; And Lacazette set up Martinelli whose lob-cum shot went over the bar.
At the start of the second half, Podence beat the whole Arsenal defence with another pass and Hwang pushed it wide from another acute angle. Ramsdale’s positioning affected the effort, but it could easily have deflected in off his shin.
And the pattern of the first half repeated itself. Lacazette went on a drive and was fouled by Jonny, but the free kick was wasted by the Frenchman; Partey had a couple of shots over the bar; Saka set up Lacazette whose shot was saved by Sa and Xhaka, playing further forward on the left, found White who sliced across the ball.
But the five minutes between the 71st and 76th changed the game. Pepe who looks sprightlier came on for Martinelli and Nketiah for Soares.
It wasn’t long before Arsenal’s chief creator Martin Odegaard found a space and sent a lobbed pass to Nketiah who crossed to an unmarked Pepe, who killed the ball, spun, and shot into the net in one movement.
But it could have gone either way after that. Ait-Nouri beat Pepe on the left and crossed to Neto. But Gabriel kneeled with his hands behind his back and the ball on target for the corner of the net with Ramsdale beaten somewhat miraculously shaved off his shin to go wide.
Odegaard, finding space on the right of the Wolves area flicked the junction of bar and post with his effort.
Saka had a right foot curler like the second against Brentford.
But in the fourth minute of injury time, a neat one-two between Pepe and Lacazette set the Frenchman free. His shot was scuffed, but deflected off Saiss, with Sa reacting too late, turning the ball into his own net.
Lacazette said: “I’m really happy. It is amazing to win in last minute. We really wanted to win today. It is important to be on top of the table. We didn’t give up until the end.
“The fans gave us a lot of energy. The win gives us a lot of confidence. It is a young team and confidence can drop quickly – so we work hard in training every day.”
Raul Jiminez said: “It is disappointing – fighting all game and conceding at the end. They were pressing hard at the and we lost control.”
Mikel Arteta said: “At home we have to be good to fight for places. The way we won it creates a belief with the fans. The team needs our belief – it is a really young squad.
“Wolves are a top side. They are difficult to beat. They are a big threat in transition.”
Bruno Lage said: “This is football. We need to be in the game all the minutes.
On the incident with the wrong sub number, he said: “It was bad communications between me and the staff. It was not in my mind to waste time.
“We did a good game. We started well. We had three chances for 2-0 – Raul, Hwang and Pedro. The one where Coady wins the ball [was through on goal] was a massive situation.
“I think we deserve more than what we get. I think we controlled the game.”
Premier League: Arsenal 2 Wolves 1
Arsenal: 32Ramsdale, 17Cédric Soares (Substituted for Nketiah at 76’minutes), 4White, 6Gabriel,3Tierney, Substituted for Tavares at 90+2’minutes), 5Partey, 34Xhaka, 7Saka (Booked at 38mins), 8Ødegaard, 35Martinelli (Substituted for Pépé at 71’minutes), 9Lacazette
Wolves: 1Malheiro de Sá, 23Kilman, 16Coady, 27Saïss, 22Nélson (Semedo Substituted for Castro Otto at 61’minutes), 8Neves, 28João Moutinho, 3Aït-Nouri, 10Podence (Substituted for Dendoncker at 90’minutes), 9Jiménez (Booked at 89mins), 26Hwang Hee-Chan (Substituted for Neto at 75’minutes)