Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead in a damaging 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Wednesday night.
The league leaders looked in complete control after goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie put them firmly on course for a vital away win. Victory would have stretched their advantage at the top to seven points.
Instead, Arsenal faltered late on. Hugo Bueno pulled one back with a superb strike before teenage debutant Tom Edozie punished a mix-up between goalkeeper David Raya and defender Gabriel Magalhaes deep into stoppage-time.
It was the second successive league game in which Arsenal failed to hold onto a lead, following their 1-1 draw at Brentford. The dropped points have allowed Manchester City to close the gap to five points, with City still holding a game in hand and a crucial home clash against Arsenal to come in April.
“Incredibly disappointed. We need to accept it. We need to be critical of ourselves because it was not good enough,” Arteta said.
“In the second half we did not perform in the way we should and the way we require to win a Premier League match. Certain basics we have to do, we did them so poorly one after the other.”
Arsenal have now dropped 11 points in eight league games in 2026, a worrying trend in a title race where small margins decide everything. Having previously let commanding positions slip in past battles with City, the pressure is mounting again.
“Today at the last minute, we paid the price,” Arteta admitted. “You have to stand up. When you have a moment of difficulty, we have to show how much we want it and how good we are.”
With a north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur up next, followed by a key home match against Chelsea, Arsenal’s response will define whether this setback becomes a stumble – or the moment their title dream starts to fade.
