Goals from Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard were enough to see us return to the top of the league as we claimed victory against Wolves at Molineux.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, the Belgian struck just before the end of the opening 45 when his miscued effort flew into the top corner of the net to score his 14th goal of the campaign, and the skipper got on target in stoppage-time to calm any Gooner nerves.
A fine save from David Raya that tipped a Joao Gomes shot onto the post was our only real moment of danger in the game, and a club-record sixth successive clean sheet on our league travels ensured we got the result required to return to top spot and move on from our European exit in the week.
Woodwork rattled
The game was just seconds old when Jose Sa was called into action when Kai Havertz hooked a volley at him, and that was one of a number of early half opportunities we created, including an almost identical pair for Declan Rice.
Both came to him on the edge of the box five minutes apart, and after his initial sighter was side-footed straight at the keeper, he should have done better with the second chance when a better sight of goal arrived but instead, he threaded it just past the post.
Wolves looked like a side struggling for confidence having been winless in their last five matches, including three of the last five in the league, but their supporters were the ones next to have their heads in their hands thanks to an excellent David Raya save on the half-hour mark.
Joao Gomes nicked the ball off Jakub Kiwior in the left-back slot and tentatively took the ball into the box, and with few options to choose from he decided to have a crack from six yards out. His fierce shot looked destined to hit the net, but Raya showed great reactions to palm the ball onto his post before our defence scrambled the ball away.
Leandro hands us the lead
That was a warning shot we heeded, as thankfully with a couple of minutes of the half to go, we found a way to get ourselves in front. Bukayo Saka clipped the ball into the area where Gabriel Jesus showed good strength to hold off Matt Doherty’s challenge, and despite being nudged to the ground by the defender, got up and laid the ball into Trossard’s path.
Our winger swung a leg at it and despite slicing awkwardly across it, the ball kissed the post before nestling into the top corner to hand us the lead we craved - and deserved - at the interval.
Our control over proceedings continued after the break but the chances dried up at the start of the second half as Wolves threw bodies at our attempted shots and kept Sa from being called into action, that was until Havertz again tried his luck with a volley but from a central position he could only find the custodian.
That would be the only major opportunity of the opening 20 minutes of the half, and with the lead still a precarious one we could barely afford to give Wolves a sniff, but they got one when substitute Mario Lemina cut inside and let fly but Raya was again equal to it.
Skipper seals it
That would be the only cause for concern as our defence held firm on their way to a third-straight shutout at Molineux, and indeed as the game headed towards its conclusion, we looked more likely to score.
In stoppage-time, Saka wriggled into the area and beat two players before smashing a shot high, Rice saw an effort from range call Sa into action and then the shot-stopper managed to stick up a big hand to deny Gabriel Martinelli.
But finally the resistance broke when Havertz found Odegaard in the area who saw an initial attempt blocked, and then despite a tight angle he squeezed the ball between Sa and the near post to find the net and ensure his team head back to the Premier League summit with five games to go.
Facts and stats
We have now kept a clean sheet in each of our last six Premier League away games. Only Chelsea in December 2008 and Manchester United in February 2009 (both 7) have enjoyed longer such runs in the competition’s history.
We have won 11 of our 13 Premier League games in 2024 (D1 L1), while we’ve opened the scoring in 25 different top-flight matches this term, last doing so more often in 2004/05 (30).
Wolves have lost each of their last six Premier League games against us, only against Liverpool between January 2011 and May 2022 (11 games) have they suffered a longer run of successive defeats against a side in the competition.
O'Neil's side have lost four of their last six Premier League games at Molineux (W2), while overall, they’re without a win in the competition in five games (D2 L3) – it’s their longest such run within a single season of the competition since November 2022 (D1 L4).
We have recorded 15 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, at least five more than any other side, while it’s our most in a single campaign in the competition since 2015/16 (18).
Only Bukayo Saka (14) has more Premier League goals for us this season than Leandro Trossard (9), while Trossard’s eight goal involvements in the competition against Wolves (2 goals, 6 assists) is more than against any other side.
Since the start of last season, only Erling Haaland (27), Mohamed Salah (26) and Ollie Watkins (24) have been involved in more Premier League goals away from home than Martin Odegaard (23 – 14 goals, 9 assists). Indeed, his goal was his 50th goal involvement in the competition (31 goals, 19 assists).
What's next
The games continue to come thick and fast as we host Chelsea in Premier League action on Tuesday, before we travel across north London the following Sunday for our second north London derby of the season against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, April 28.
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