Wolverhampton Wanderers pushed on to grab a huge three points away at the Emirates Stadium after Raul Jimenez had to be rushed to hospital in the opening 10 minutes of the game.
The midlands side sit sixth in the Premier League which will make the Wolves fans very happy, and they only look to be getting better.
Goals from Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence sunk the Gunners to one win in the last 5 games, but left Nuno Espirito Santo in dreamland, as his new tactics and system seemed to work a treat.
Wolves shifted from their ‘5 at the back’ for the second straight game and they played brilliantly. Attacking, fast and free-flowing play saw Wolves create a number of chances, and saw them earn the three points from the Emirates.
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Goalkeeper and Defenders
Rui Patricio – 6 – Patricio didn’t have a bad game, but he didn’t have a good game either. Despite not having much to do, he conceded a goal and looked shaky whenever he had the ball at his feet. However, saying that he was the goalkeeper in a winning side, and a side that successfully defended for their life for the final 20 minutes.
Nelson Semedo – 5 – A man that has struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of English football since arriving from Barcelona in the summer, didn’t have the best game of his life.
In a system that is foreign to him since moving to the club, he looked completely at sea with his positioning at times today defensively, as Arsenal looked for a way through. However, going forward he looked good and backed up Adama Traore well on the wing, and caused trouble for the Arsenal defence.
Conor Coady – 7 – The captain, back in the squad and back in the headlines. Question marks were raised over whether he could do it in a 4-back formation, and he answered them and passed with flying colours. His positioning was brilliant and he led the side perfectly throughout.
Willy Boly – 5 – Boly once again was playing in a foreign system since he has joined the club under Santo. The change to the four at the back formation may have thrown him off his game tonight, as he was sloppy in possession of the ball and when he was making challenges. Boly however, did what Boly does best and won his headers and his 50/50s which helped Wolves clinch all three points.
Fernando Marçal – 7 – A full back that was drafted in to replace young star Rayan Aït-Nouri who has struggled recently played very well in my opinion. As a more defensive full-back, he was perfect for this new Wolves system and did his job very well. Won his individual battles and assured that Wolves returned home with the three points that they deserved.
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Midfielders
Leander Dendonker – 7 – Dendonker played a perfect game as a box-to-box midfielder and did everything that was asked of him brilliantly. He stopped the Arsenal attacks through winning the ball in midfield whilst starting the Wolves attacks.
Joao Moutinho – 9 – Moutinho is a player that, on his day can be the best player on the pitch, and can win the game for his side. Today was his day. On the ball he was excellent, spraying passes through to the attackers and starting the attacks for Wolves.
On top of this, he won the ball multiple times, when a player of his size shouldn’t really have done. Towards the end of the game, when Wolves were hanging on for dear life he was the one that was running around the pitch the most, trying to win the ball back.
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Attackers
Pedro Neto – 8 – A goal that started off the proceedings for Wolves, which was very well taken as the ball dropped in the box for him after Dendonker hit the bar. Neto looked good, stretching the play and causing problems for the Arsenal from the off. It is still early days but Neto looks like a ready-made replacement for Diogo Jota.
Adama Traore – 7 – As always Wolves looked to use Traore’s pace down the wing to get in behind Arsenal, and he didn’t disappoint again tonight. A brilliant cross which set up the first goal for Pedro Neto, and a brilliant, dazzling run through the Arsenal midfield for the second goal, Adama Traore was at the heart of Wolves’ attacking threat and looked back to the Adama of last season.
Daniel Podence – 8 – The scorer of the second goal, the goal that won Wolves the game, Daniel Podence today once again proved why Wolves signed him from Olympiacos. Brilliantly threatening from start to finish and a delightful piece of skill that enabled him to score the match-winner for Wolves.
Raúl Jimenez – N/A – Raúl was unfortunately stretchered off and rushed to hospital in the first 10 minutes after a nasty head clash with David Luiz.
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Substitutions
Fabio Silva – 6 – The youngster had the traumatic experience of replacing Raúl Jimenez after being rushed to the hospital. Despite this, he had a decent game and linked up well with the other attackers around him. He created a couple of half-chances, which Raúl might have scored, but apart from that, he didn’t really do much.
Ruben Neves – 6 – Neves came off the bench replacing Daniel Podence as Wolves looked to close out the game. Neves didn’t offer much for Wolves in the short time that he played, but he was however in the right place at the right time on multiple occasions to clear any danger.
Max Kilman – N/A