Mikel Arteta ‘really happy’ as Arsenal extend lead at the top of Premier League

LONDON – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has challenged his players to “keep winning” as early goals by Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard fired them to

a 2-1 English Premier League home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Dec 2.

The Gunners made a lightning-fast start and the points always looked secure from the moment captain Odegaard doubled their advantage in the 13th minute.

Saka had given Arteta’s side the lead in the sixth minute after some intricate link-up play sent him clear.

Wolves regrouped and gradually began to make a few inroads, although Arsenal were untroubled until Matheus Cunha shot powerfully past goalkeeper David Raya after 86 minutes to set up an unexpectedly nervy climax.

“Football is not perfect, but I’m really happy with the way we played,” Arteta said.

“It should have been a much bigger scoreline. We made a mistake and they take the chance, and it’s game on in the Premier League. We had chances and we didn’t put them away.”

Arsenal have 33 points from 14 games, four more than Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s champions could cut the deficit if they beat Tottenham Hotspur in a late match on Dec 3.

After running City so close for so long last season only to fall short, there were fears that the Gunners might struggle to reach such heights again this time.

But Arteta’s side are showing the sort of consistency that is required for a long title race.

“We have to keep winning matches and performing the way we are. That’s the challenge, to keep doing that every three days because we have another important game at Luton (on Dec 5),” added the Spaniard.

Just as against Lens in the 6-0 Champions League win in midweek when they scored five times in the first half, Arsenal flew out of the traps to take control.

The opener was typical of Arsenal’s attacking play as Saka linked up with Gabriel Jesus before Takehiro Tomiyasu played the ball through to the England forward who smashed his finish past Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.

They doubled their lead with another team goal, this time Oleksandr Zinchenko playing a one-two with Jesus who passed to Odegaard who side-footed home.

A third goal proved elusive, however, and when Cunha beat Raya late on, Wolves suddenly looked capable of rescuing an unlikely point.

“When you concede two early goals, you know it might be a long afternoon. We knew we would suffer against Arsenal,” said Wolves boss Gary O’Neil.

“We tried to be aggressive, but maybe didn’t carry as much of a threat as we would have liked.”
REUTERS