Arsenal’s Wolves Wobble Leaves Timber Running on Empty as Title Race Reignites

Only Arsenal could turn a cruise into a cliff‑edge at Molineux. Two up and purring, then pegged back to 2-2 at the death on a sleety Wednesday night that felt more January than spring. It keeps Manchester City grinning and Gooners groaning — and it shoved one issue under a very bright spotlight: Jurrien Timber looks absolutely spent.

Saka breaks the drought, Hincapié doubles up… then it unravels

Bukayo Saka marked his fresh five‑year deal with a strike inside five minutes, snapping a barren run that had rattled on for 15 games in all competitions. The script said top v bottom should be a procession; Wolves had other ideas. Arsenal eventually made it 2-0 when Piero Hincapié popped up to extend the lead, yet the Old Gold dug in and Hugo Bueno’s lovely curler on the hour dragged the hosts right back into it.

Deep into stoppage time, calamity. Riccardo Calafiori, otherwise tidy, turned the ball into his own net and the points were shared. Title race: blown back open. Lessons: plentiful.

Timber’s tank hits empty

Here’s the worry. At season’s start, plenty fancied Jurrien Timber to gatecrash the right‑back conversation and keep the likes of Reece James and Daniel Muñoz honest. But this was his 37th outing of a punishing campaign and he looked lead‑legged from the off. Across an aching 90 minutes he managed just two defensive contributions and offered precious little the other way. In that Molineux sleet, he went 0/2 on crosses, hit only 25% of his long balls, and handed the ball back 13 times. On form and on the numbers, he looks overdue a breather — Arteta has to protect him now.

Remember, the Dutchman is only 24 and has been good value this term with seven goal involvements from defence. He’s even kept Ben White watching on. But there’s a fine line between ever‑present and overcooked, and Timber’s straining right on it.

What the fans saw — and said

Arsenal’s timeline was merciless. Supporters called him “out on his feet,” wondered aloud if he was carrying a knock, and a fair few urged Arteta to hook him well before the hour. No witch‑hunt, just the obvious: tired legs make tired decisions, and Wolves feasted whenever space opened down that flank.

Arteta’s headache: rotation or risk?

When you’re chasing everything, you need your full‑backs to be sprinters and playmakers rolled into one. Timber’s usually both, but the meters are stacking up. With Ben White itching to return and the fixtures piling, the manager has a choice: rotate now and bank freshness, or push on and hope the engine holds. Given what we saw here, the former looks the smarter play.

What it means for the run‑in

The late sting means momentum leaks away just when City are sniffing. Arsenal still control plenty of their destiny, but the margins are brutal. If you’re tracking the odds swing after that stoppage‑time gut‑punch, you won’t be alone — the market will move, as it always does. For a quick overview of where the money’s heading, have a look at the best betting sites and you’ll see how fine the margins have become.

Bottom line

Arsenal played enough good football to win twice, then lost their nerve once. Saka’s drought is done, Hincapié looks a handful in both boxes, but the narrative out of Molineux is Timber’s fatigue and a title race back on the boil. Rest the lad, reset the line, and get back to strangling games before they get chaotic.