Saka’s Wicked Delivery Saves Arsenal in Late, Wild Own-Goal Finish

Well, that was not one for the purists, but it was a proper Premier League knees-up at the end. Arsenal, jeered at the interval after huffing and puffing at the division’s leakiest back line, found salvation the scruffy way: two late own goals engineered by the irrepressible Bukayo Saka, sandwiching a Wolves equaliser that had the Emirates groaning before roaring again.

How the game was won

For 70 minutes Arsenal prodded and probed without cutting edge. Then Saka’s corner thudded off the woodwork, cannoned onto Sam Johnstone’s head and over the line for a comedic opener. Wolves looked beaten, yet in the 90th minute super-sub Tolu Arokodare popped up with a towering header to stun the place. Cue one last twist: Saka raided down the right and slung in another devilish cross that Yerson Mosquera could only nod beyond his own keeper. Smash, grab, three points.

The moment that mattered

Credit where it’s due: Saka’s dead-ball quality and relentless wide play broke a stubborn game. He didn’t get his name on the scoresheet, but both decisive moments were born from his boot. When your star winger keeps asking the question, defenders eventually get the answer wrong.

Arsenal player ratings

GK: David Raya – 6/10. Barely tested but produced one very sharp stop. Might look back at his positioning for the Wolves leveller.

RB: Ben White – 6/10. Bright start down the flank with a couple of teasing balls, then forced off after 31 minutes.

CB: Jurrien Timber – 7.5/10. Swapped between centre-half and right-back without fuss; clean defensively and tidy with his deliveries from wide areas.

CB: William Saliba – 8/10. Strolled through most of it, kept Arsenal ticking from the back and dealt with the rare defensive work impeccably.

LB: Piero Hincapié – 7/10. Not stretched going the other way; progressive and positive in build-up.

CM: Martin Zubimendi – 5/10. Saw plenty of touches but too safe, too sideways, not enough incision when the game begged for a killer pass.

CM: Declan Rice – 6/10. Honest shift and plenty of balls into the mixer, but the delivery lacked precision more often than not.

AM: Eberechi Eze – 5/10. Carried the ball with intent but couldn’t unpick the lock.

RW: Bukayo Saka – 9/10 (Man of the Match). The difference-maker. Everything threatening flowed through him; his corner and late cross forced both own goals.

ST: Victor Gyökeres – 3/10. On the periphery and a step off the pace in the box; didn’t attack the tempting low crosses when they arrived.

LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 5.5/10. Lively in duels but wasteful with the final choice and missed from awkward angles.

SUB: Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7/10. Injected energy and direct running after replacing White, gave Wolves something to think about.

SUB: Leandro Trossard – N/A. Little time, little impact.

SUB: Martin Ødegaard – 7.5/10. Immediate upgrade in craft; threaded passes that finally stretched Wolves’ shape.

SUB: Mikel Merino – N/A. Not enough minutes to judge.

SUB: Gabriel Jesus – N/A. Cameo without incident.

Wolves player ratings

GK: Sam Johnstone – 4.5/10. Steady until fate – and the post – conspired for the own goal. Could have commanded his area better on the corner.

RWB: Matt Doherty – 5/10. Second best to Martinelli too often and offered little thrust the other way.

CB: Yerson Mosquera – 4.5/10. A mix of brave blocks and rash moments; the late own goal will haunt him.

CB: Emmanuel Agbadou – 6.5/10. Front-foot defending and relished the battle with Gyökeres.

CB: Toti Gomes – 6/10. Headed away plenty but was dragged into uncomfortable territory by Saka.

LWB: David Møller Wolfe – 4.5/10. A torrid evening against Saka and couldn’t influence things upfield.

CM: Ladislav Krejčí – 4/10. Sloppy in possession and didn’t stamp any authority when Arsenal dominated the ball.

CM: André – 6.5/10. Industrious screen in front of the defence, broke up play well.

CM: João Gomes – 7/10. Tenacious, aggressive, and set the tone with his tackling.

ST: Hee-Chan Hwang – 6/10. Walked a disciplinary tightrope but fashioned Wolves’ best first-half chance and stung Raya’s palms.

ST: Jørgen Strand Larsen – 5.5/10. Some tidy hold-up work without the service to threaten.

SUB: Jackson Tchatchoua – N/A. No real imprint on proceedings.

SUB: Tolu Arokodare – 7/10. Rose to equalise late on; surely in the frame to start after that impact.

SUB: Mateus Mané – 6/10. Direct runner who asked questions on the break.

What it means

Arsenal dodged a sticky one and, more importantly, found a way when the pretty patterns weren’t paying off. For Wolves, it’s the cruel side of the game: defend stoutly for long spells, nick a leveller, and still head home empty-handed thanks to a pair of freakish ricochets.

Fancy a flutter after that rollercoaster? Check our best betting sites guide before the next kick-off – and keep an eye on Saka’s assist markets if he keeps serving them on a silver platter.

Highlights

Extended footage and key moments to follow soon.