Wolves 0-1 Arsenal: Gunners move up to fifth despite Gabriel Martinelli’s bizarre red card

Another Arsenal game, another Arsenal red card. Though at least this time it did not cost them.

After three dismissals in their opening five, winless matches of this year Mikel Arteta warned his players that if their ill-discipline continues their hopes of achieving what they want in the remainder of the season will be minimal.

His plea fell on death ears at Wolves with Gabriel Martinelli picking up the 15th red card of Arteta’s reign – seven more than the nearest club in that same period – and Arsenal’s fourth in the last six 2022 matches. 

This one, admittedly, came in bizarre circumstance, shown to Martinelli by referee Michael Oliver for two bookable offences just seconds apart by the Brazilian who was allowed to play on and commit the second almost immediately after the first.

Defender Gabriel scored the only goal as resolute Arsenal won at Molineux to go fifth in the Premier League

Arsenal defender Gabriel bundled home Alexandre Lacazette's flick-on for the only goal in the 25th minute

Arsenal defender Gabriel bundled home Alexandre Lacazette’s flick-on for the only goal in the 25th minute

Wolves were unhappy with Alexandre Lacazette's challenge on goalkeeper Jose Sa in the build up to the goal

Wolves were unhappy with Alexandre Lacazette’s challenge on goalkeeper Jose Sa in the build up to the goal

MATCH FACTS:

Wolves (3-4-3): Sa 6; Kilman 7.5, Coady 7 (Silva 81), Saiss 7; Semedo 6, Neves 7, Dendoncker 6, Marcal 6.5 (Ait-Nouri 63, 6); Trincao 5 (Chiquinho 62, 6), Jimenez 6, Podence 6.

Subs not used: Ruddy, Hoever, Jonny, Toti, Hwang, Cundle.

Booked: Saiss, Neves

Manager: Bruno Lage 6

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale 7.5; Cedric 6, White 7.5, Gabriel 7, Tierney 7.5; Partey 7, Xhaka 6.5; Saka 7 (Holding 71, 7), Odegaard 7 (Smith Rowe 68, 6), Martinelli 7; Lacazette 6.5 (Nketiah 81).

Subs not used: Okonkwo, Pepe, Tavares, Lokonga, Elneny, Awe.

Scorer: Gabriel 25

Booked: Partey, Xhaka, Gabriel

Sent off: Martinelli

Manager: Mikel Arteta 7

Referee: Michael Oliver 6

‘It is the first time I have seen a red card like this in 18 years that I have been in this league,’ said Mikel Arteta, who admitted his concern at Arsenal’s unwanted record and that he is at a loss as to how to stop their issues.

‘It’s very worrying. You have to be pretty willing to give a red card in that situation but still it is what happened,’ he added.

‘We know that playing with 10 men in this league you’re not going to get the points we want. We have to stop it but it is difficult to find more arguments and ways to transmit that to the players.

‘Everybody says it’s the most disciplined group they have seen in the last 10, 15 years and they’re still getting red cards for a lot of things.’

After the talk of problems and solutions in the wake of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure, Arsenal were left needing a goal from Gabriel Magalhaes and a huge display of late defiance to provide the latter at Wolves ensuring they escaped Molineux with their first victory since Boxing Day.

It was real backs-to-the-wall stuff following Martinelli’s dismissal, with Rob Holding coming on to brilliantly marshal Arsenal’s defence during Wolves’s late siege.

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli was sent off for two infringements in the same passage of play in the second-half

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli was sent off for two infringements in the same passage of play in the second-half

The Arsenal forward attempted to stop a throw-in and then bundled over Chiquinho a few seconds later

The Arsenal forward attempted to stop a throw-in and then bundled over Chiquinho a few seconds later

And the way Arteta hugged his coaches and his players embraced each other as they celebrated with their fans it seemed like much more than three points had been claimed by the north Londoners.

It was a sign of the effort that was required and indication of how much they needed this result.

A line can now be drawn under their frustrating start to the year and they start to look forward and upwards after leapfrogging Manchester United to go fifth, one point off the top four.

With the Gunners having drawn four successive blanks and Wolves among the league’s lowest scorers an opening of few chances was little surprise.

It was not until midway through the half that Arsenal threatened for the first time when Bukayo Saka’s cut back led to two blocked efforts and Alexandre Lacazette just failed to connect with Cedric Soares’s cross.

Wolves cleared the danger for a corner but, from it, Gabriel tapped in Ben White’s knockdown from a yard out.

In the absence of Arsenal signing a striker to replace Aubameyang, centre-back Gabriel did a good passing impression of one with his poacher’s finish.

The visitors were hanging on at the end as Wolves surged forward in search of an equaliser

The visitors were hanging on at the end as Wolves surged forward in search of an equaliser

Striker Alexandre Lacazette goes down in the box but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty

Striker Alexandre Lacazette goes down in the box but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty

Daniel Podence was at the heart of Wolves' best moves but they could not find a way through the defence

Daniel Podence was at the heart of Wolves’ best moves but they could not find a way through the defence

Just before he struck, Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa was left prone on the ground after Lacazette flew into him while attempting to reach White’s header first, leaving Gabriel with the unguarded net to score into.

Wolves manager Bruno Lage said: ‘I saw the Arsenal goal and the striker kicked Jose Sa’s hand. It’s clear, so clear. When you look at the image it’s a strange decision.’

Wolves began the second half like a side unhappy with their first-half contribution, playing with increased urgency.

And after Daniel Podence and Leander Dendoncker efforts roused the crowd they gained further encouragement from Martinelli’s dismissal.

Oliver waved play-on when Martinelli pushed Daniel Podence over as he took a throw-in.

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale celebrate the victory at Molineux

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale celebrate the victory at Molineux

But when the Brazilian also fouled Chiquinho as he chased back towards his goal Oliver brandished two yellows Martinelli’s way and Arsenal were down to 10 men. Again.

To seemingly compound matters Granit Xhaka turned the resulting free-kick into his own net only to be saved by an offside flag and Lacazette blew a glorious chance wide.

In his match and the circumstances surrounding Arsenal’s striker issues, it would have been an ideal time for the French frontman to take it.

Instead Arsenal were forced to cling on and needed Aaron Ramsdale saves from Marcal and Podence plus a desperate clearance from the impressive Ben White to get over the line as Wolves chucked everything at them.

Lage added: ‘I’m disappointed because I thought we were the better team.’

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