Arsenal throw away two-goal lead to drop points at Wolves

21:58They are always there supporting us. It's not been an easy season, so it's always good to give them something. that we are here, we are still working, we are still giving everything every day. So yeah, I'm really happy for them as well. Tom, final word to you. Who's here to enjoy that with your friends, family? I mean, I've been on a bench for a couple of weeks, so my family's been coming to them. But my dad managed to get to this one, so yeah, it's good. Nice. And your brother, I mean, I don't know if everyone knows, but he's a professional footballer as well for Southampton. Yeah, I know. Having an older brother who plays football is good because I've got a role model to look up to and see what it takes to get there.

22:38So, yeah, it's helpful, yeah. And when you get back to the changing room, that phone is going to be red hot, isn't it? Yeah, I'm not sure. It probably will be. It will be? Yeah. Well done. Unbelievable. Well done, both of you. Thank you, mate. Thank you. Well done. Well, what a lovely interview and those moments, I suppose, Conor, are the things that are going to take you through to the season despite being at the bottom of the league? 100%. And that's what these Wolves fans will remember, little moments like that. and I think that was a top interview. He put a smile on my face listening to both of them speak, not just Tom Odozie, but Hugo Bueno as well, because I think that was his first goal and what a finish it was.

23:12But a wonderful, wonderful interview and it's been such a tough season. The lads mentioned it there. So I think for the fans just to remember little thoughts, little memories like that from the season, I think it's big and a wonderful, wonderful achievement for them both. All right, let's turn our attention to the start of the game because Arsenal started pretty quickly and they started really well as well. Bukayo Saka getting the goal within five minutes. Yeah, it's good movement. It is good movement off Mane. Mane falls asleep and it's a nice little header through the keeper's legs. Then you think after that.

23:40But it's the movement here. I mean, the young lad does his socks and then he loses concentration, loses him. But brilliant, brilliant ball. Very rarely you can stop. It's top, top cross that is. And really, Saka's just got to make sure he gets his head on it and he's not going to miss. But I thought the second goal was phenomenal. I mean, this by Nkepi. If this was Haaland, you'd go, wow, you would. I mean, he runs along the line, so he makes sure he's onside. But it's this touch. He touches it inside and then back outside, and then he finishes. The touch inside, if you watch it, he goes inside to take it towards the defender, and then his next touch brings it away from the defender.

24:16So the defender can't do anything to him. Brilliant, brilliant finish. Brilliant finish from a full-back as well. I was going to say, centre-back to left-back is quite nice, isn't it? I was going to say, I can't believe you've not mentioned the centre-back's pass, to be honest with you. You're just looking for the finish, aren't you, being an attacker? The run makes it. It's a wonderful pass from Gabriel. Brilliant. The room was upstanding, by the way. He kept himself on side as well. They had to wait a little bit, didn't they, before the celebrations could continue. Yeah, it was just on side, wasn't it?

24:42About five yards. All right, then. Let's get a little bit more reaction. We can hear now from Bukayo Saka. He's with Pat Davison. Bukayo, a night that started so brilliantly. How flat is that dressing room you just walked out of? Yeah, it's very flat. I'm very disappointed with the result and especially how we played in the second half. Far from the level that we've set this season. So what would you say happened second half? And are you worried it's a bit of a reoccurring theme, letting teams back into matches that you seem to have locked down? Not so much about a reoccurring theme. It's time for us to reflect on the last few performances and just fix the issues immediately so we can get back to winning games and going on a run to build momentum because, yeah, we've lost that a bit right now.

25:35Do you think you've lost it? Is that due to the situation you're facing? You're going for massive prizes. Is the pressure part of it? No, I don't think about all of that, man. I just think we need to just get back to our level, just do the basics right. We've got more than enough quality in this team to win games, especially the games where we've been dropping points recently. So, yeah, we just need to fix that. And that's all our focus is right now. Thanks for cutting. Thank you. Do you think there is a little bit of added pressure, especially because they've got such a busy schedule, Arsenal?

26:12They've been leading the way in the Premier League and they've also got to compete on other fronts as well. Yeah, I know they're on all kinds of fronts, but you just take one game at a time. All you can do is one game at a time. This game had to be looked after. They'll be going back on the coach or the train tonight and you don't get these moments back. You don't get them back. You know, it was two points thrown away, 1 million percent. You know, it wasn't a point gain like I thought at Brentford. Brentford's a hard place, but they're 2-0 up. You've got to play every game for the last minute.

26:43I showed you that when Marner gets it, three players go around him. He just walks through them and he passes the ball along. Them moments have to stop. If you want to win Premier Leagues, you have to stop them little moments, them little moments. And if you don't, as Conor said, Man City will punish you. And now all of a sudden from nowhere, from going from the 11 points clear a while back, now it's not even in their hands. And that is unbelievable. That is what's happened. Although Arsenal, of course, will be disappointed with what's happened tonight, because they've been performing so well this season, they've had so much joy.

27:17Can they use that again to sort of go back onto a bit of a run and a bit more momentum? Of course they can use it. I think they're a top-class team, by the way. So let's not take away the fact that they're a top-class team because they are and they've got a world-class manager and a fantastic manager. So for me, they can certainly get to it. But when Bakayo says there about he doesn't think about that sort of stuff, he definitely does when he goes home, 100%. And for me, Mercer just mentioned there about fighting on all fronts. For me, the Premier League has got to be your focus. It's got to be your focus.

27:42So these games have to be Arsenal's focus. And I've never been in that boat to speak from experience about being in a Premier League title race. But at the same time, we all watch a lot of football and that has to be the focus. the Premier League being so far in front for so long and not winning it for so long, for me, has to be Arsenal's focus. And that will hit them hard today because we keep on mentioning Manchester City, but Manchester City's players and Pep Guardiola will be sat at home now rubbing their hands together going, right, here we go. It's game on now. We're coming for you. So I definitely think he thinks about it.

28:10The pressure will build. I think it is building. I think we can see it with the performance and then the reaction at the end as well at the game. OK, time for a quick break now. But when we come back, we'll be hearing, hopefully from both managers, reaction from both managers, as Mikel Arteta, who can understandably be very disappointed. Rob Edwards, though, certainly pleased with his size to come back in that game. We'll be back after this.

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29:41Well, it was the first time in Premier League history that a team top of the table has had a two-goal lead slip against a team in the relegation zone. Let's hear from the Arsenal manager now, Mikel Arteta. He's with Patrick Davison. Mikel, in honesty, does that feel self-inflicted tonight? Yeah, it's very tough to accept it, but the second half we didn't perform at any level in any aspect of the game at the standards that are required to win a game in the Premier League and we pay the price. Do you understand why? I know it's only a few minutes after the game. Too many things that went wrong. It was one after the other, basically.

30:23We never got any dominance or control at the game. We scored the second one goal and it's still there. It's better not to judge it. We are all too emotional about it. It's not the moment to do it. It's a moment when you don't perform and you are at this level and expectations are where they are. It's not. You have to take the hit. Because as well, we deserve it. I remember you saying after the Manchester United game, this is a moment for being close to the players, almost for looking after them. Would you reiterate that message now or would you feel a bit differently tonight? No, exactly the same.

30:57It's very easy now when the emotion starts to say things that can damage the team. That's the ultimate and the worst decision that you can make. Everybody wants to do their best, nobody questions that. today we're at the level, at the races and at the standards that are required and when you do that and you want to be at this level you have to take the hits You also spoke after that Manchester United game about enjoying the situation the position that you've worked really hard to get in Do you still have a sense that the players aren't doing that right now? You're not enjoying the position you've earned?

31:33But the enjoyment comes from moments of suffering as well If you believe that you come to any ground in the Premier League and you don't have to go through tough periods, that's not the reality. So enjoyment comes as well from those moments when you know the best, OK, get through and find a way to do that. And today, at the end, in the last minute, we pay the price. And when you're talking about things missing, are you talking about application, effort, those sorts? Is it much more quality? No, none of that. None of that. I've never seen that in this thing. There are many other aspects that you have to do.

32:04very basic things, simple things, much better than we've done if you want to really dominate the game and bring the margins that there should be between the two teams. Talking of margins, are you concerned in general over the course of a few games now that when you're getting into dominant positions like 2-0 tonight, the Brentford game, the Man United game you're getting into these strong positions and then you're letting teams back in has that been going on for a little while now? Depends, because against Lidl it didn't happen But whatever he says or judge, you have to accept it because today we need to be very critical with ourselves in the second half.

32:39It wasn't good enough, that's clear. What about the form in general? Two wins in seven starting with that Liverpool game. Is that a concern or have you seen enough good bits in and around it, some of the cup performances, to not be too concerned? In the league, that's the numbers and that's the reality that we haven't been as consistent as we've been in the first few months. you put the cups in between, that's a different story. So, yeah, whatever they start saying now, when you don't perform at the level that is required, you have to accept them. How big a test is it ahead now for the whole club, but for you, for the team, to get this title challenge back on track?

33:15You're top, of course. No, you have to stand up. When they have a moment of difficulty, and we feel really frustrated with ourselves, you have the perfect game against the Spurs away to go and show how much we want it and how good we are. That's it. That's all we have to do. Talk on the pitch. Thank you. Thank you. Well, after that draw, this is where Arsenal are currently in the Premier League table. Still top of the table. Five points clear of Manchester City, but of course have played that game extra and are still yet to face each other as well, which comes on to the next point of the remaining fixtures.

33:51We're finally at that stage of the season now where we can get all of the fixtures onto the same page. But in terms of what's to come compared to Manchester City, how do you see this? You know, it's all about, football's all about timings. You play teams at certain times in the league, do you know what I mean? Like you can look down here at West Ham, the 18th in the league, but that might be their game that they're fighting for survival or they might have won five on the trot and they're middle of the table and they're safe and they're on holiday. You just don't know with the timings of the games.

34:23Like Aston Villa could already be in the top four, cemented, might be in the Europa final and they're done. Do you know what I mean? And that game's not as hard as what it looks on paper. So it's difficult. You know, I always look at the next two. Chelsea and Tottenham, they are two very difficult games. More so, no disrespect to Newcastle and Leeds. You take Newcastle and Leeds over Spurs and Chelsea to start with. Yeah, and I think Mace is exactly right. And I think I know we're going to go onto another slide in a minute, but the big thing I always go off is past experiences and how teams finish.

34:58And we know how Manchester City finish. I know we're going to show something in a minute, but we know how they finish. We know how Pep Guardiola finishes. And this obviously shows what we're talking about now. And he is an absolute monster at finishing strong Pep Guardiola. And that's what I go off. I go off experiences and I keep mentioning about Man City being sat at home, but they'll be sat at home now looking at this going, yeah, this is a bit of us. So, yeah, we look at this area and how they finish seasons. It's unbelievable the way they do it. Yeah, this is just demonstrating the amount of points won by both Arsenal and Manchester City of the last four Premier League seasons in the last 12 games.

35:32Of course, different teams, you can argue whether Manchester City have got the same team as what they've had the last couple of seasons. But when you look at that, you speak about the experience. They're going to need to get this momentum, aren't they? Because they don't want the same thing to happen where City are having such a strong end to the season and Arsenal can't keep up. Well, I wouldn't want to be in Arsenal's shoes if it happens again. I mean, I was quite shocked with the interview of Arteta then. First time, really, I've seen him not majorly positive. Do you know what I mean? Usually he comes out, you know, we've done this, we've done that.

36:02And he's saying, oh, we deserve the hit, we deserve the hit. You know, instead of coming out and going, we're five points clear, as long as we don't get beat by Man City, we go same as them, we win the league. Wasn't like that. Even he was a bit... I was a bit worried with that interview. Even he's finding it now and he's thinking, wow, you can only do the team so much. And when you're watching that, there's something missing. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something missing. And if I had to highlight something, I would highlight what Marnie did to the three lads. Madalwicki, Martinelli, Saka.

36:36He brings the ball down and he just literally turns away from them. First half or seven, nine, ten games ago, they take the ball off him and they were up the pitch and it's a counter-attack something's missing I wouldn't want to be in their shoes if they don't win the league this year because if they ain't winning the league this year you know I remember Patrick Vieira saying before the Man United game when he was on with Roy Keane he said now or never and I'm starting to think now I was very bullish about Arsenal winning the league that's half scared me tonight If you're playing that dress room tonight and you're looking ahead to the next couple of games of course you've got Northern and Derby coming up at the weekend how important is the reaction now?

37:16It's important for leaders within the dressing room I know there's a lot of leaders in that dressing room Bakaio obviously come out and spoke we've also got Gabriel Saliba obviously other guys behind the scenes now as well being injured it's about leaders stepping forward about leaders standing up strong going in tomorrow wiping the floor with it going right that's gone now the next one is the big one which is a big one for Arsenal it's absolutely massive and then after that there's another big one so we're talking about two massive ones coming up for Arsenal and it's important they dust themselves down they get themselves going they look at where they went wrong tonight because I think A lot's gone wrong tonight for Arsenal and really put it to bed then for Sunday because, like I said, two real big games coming up.

37:49OK, well, let's get some reaction then. From a Wolves perspective, let's hear from the manager, Rob Edwards. He's with Patrick Davison. Well, Rob, it hasn't been easy. So how special a moment was that for you and your players? Yeah, it was a great moment. It was a good night for the football club. It was only a draw. But to come back from 2-0 down against one of the best teams in Europe is a pretty special result for us and a really good performance as well. What does it show? It shows that we're fighting. I said that before, I think that was about three defeats. I think that was three defeats in 11 games for us.

38:22So we're not doing that bad. It's a big narrative about us at the moment. We're not giving up. We know the position that we're in. We know what could happen. But we're never going to give up. We'll keep fighting all the way to the end of the 38th game. And we're showing that. And how special is it to see the stadium like that? because it hasn't been an easy season for them and at times it didn't feel like it was going to be an easy night for them tonight either. No, and I think nights like this, I just hope everyone has a little bit of realism and understands what we're up against as well. We're not just going to turn up and roll Arsenal over easily, so it's never going to be easy, especially when you go 1-0 down early on.

39:02So, yeah, would have liked probably a little bit more backing at that point, if I'm being honest. But the way we finished, yeah, the energy was around and it was a brilliant feeling. Sorry, just to clarify, I would have liked a bit more backing from the supporters at moments tonight. I just think we've got to realise what we're up against in that moment at that time as well. The lads are fighting hard, but Arsenal are really good. So it's not just a case of, right, you know, come on, you can't just roll those teams over or step onto them straight away. I think it was a really good performance.

39:37We were controlled in the early parts, especially after going one and down. We didn't lose our heads. And then began to really step forward and took control for long periods then as well. So, yeah, really, really proud of the players tonight. Do some of those fan reactions, though, show how kind of delicate things are? They've watched their team not win pretty much all season. You're planning for next season as well, which must be pretty difficult for the supporters. Yeah, it certainly does. But like I said, then, we're three defeats in 11. We are showing a lot of fight. We are, you know, you trace it back a long, long time now.

40:09The lads are trying. So we want to try and build some momentum and a connection and a togetherness around the place. I can understand, I've said it from day one, I understand the frustration and the anger and everything else has been really tough. It's been really tough. But yeah, we've got to try and find a way to try and energise the team and the players when they're out there in difficult moments. is there a sense maybe that tonight on the back of what you did Sunday in those conditions could be maybe a line in the sand moment? I don't know, all we're going to do is focus on the next thing I don't know whatever people think, that's not in our control all we can do is work really hard, try and bottle that feeling that we had in the dressing room when we came in at the end, I know we didn't win but when you're 2-0 down against a team like that it felt like it it's a really good energy around, we've got to try and bottle that and maintain it and keep going and keep getting better we still made mistakes tonight, the two goals were poor really poor we've got to be better in those moments but there's always going to be learning for us so lots of work to do but we are getting better Sorry to push on this because I know you've just got a really good result but was it anything in particular that upset you with the fan reaction I didn't know if I heard some booing at Jose Sarr early on, there was the cheering of a substitution as well I don't want to make a big headline out of it either now.

41:30So I know you're going to push on it. I don't think I've helped. Listen, the fans are well within their rights to feel hurt and angry this year. And I get it. And I've said that, maintained it a lot. But during the game, it's going to help us, it's going to help the players if they've got their backing. And it was there at the end. And I know then it's down to us to perform. But also, we're up against Arsenal at the moment, who are top of the league, who are really difficult to score against, really difficult to play against. top of the Champions League, wherever that qualifying was. I watched what they did to Bayern Munich.

42:02They're an unbelievable football team. For us to do that tonight is very, very special. Let's end on a positive, Rob, because you sent a young lad on for his Premier League debut, his Wolves debut, and he's just got the equaliser. What a special moment. Yeah, sometimes we have a feeling on the bench and he's done well in training, young Tom. Obviously, we've got a thinner squad now as well, so there's going to be opportunities for the younger players. Yeah, he took his moment, a really special moment for him. Well done. Thanks, Patrick. Cheers. Nice one, too. quite an interesting interview actually there from Rob Edwards what did you make of the comments that he said about the fans first of all yeah really interesting and this is a real passionate guy Rob really passionate guy and he'll be seeing improvements in his team and I mentioned before the game about kind of the job he's doing the plan he's put in place and he's obviously felt something within the game tonight where he's not being happy to support us now we've all played in front of fans when it's been tough I certainly have last season when I was at Leicester it was a real tough place to be and sometimes you can get your back up about certain things that go on.

42:59But then also when you take a step back a few days later, you go, what are the fans actually feeling from the season? Now, Wolves haven't had a great season, so the fans have got the frustrations in terms of the season. But when you just come off a pitch, you know what it's like as well, you're all emotional, you're listening to things in the crowd. And I think that's what it is. Like I said, I love Rob DeBitts. I think he's fantastic and I think he's doing a good job. So he'd have felt something there in the game that he's gone. I need to say something there. But I think it's quite an emotional interview and I think it's something where he's finished on a good one, I'm speaking about obviously young Tom Adolsey.

43:24Yeah, absolutely. And these are the kind of games that he will want to see that development, that improvement from his team if they are going to be playing in the Championship next season. Yeah, 100%. But I just hope that interview don't come back to bite him. You know, you've got to keep the fans on your side. These fans have been coming and watching a bad team all season. You know, he's just turned it around now. That don't happen overnight. They're frustrated. It costs a lot of money to watch a Premier League game. You know, it's not free. They're not paying for him to go there. they have their opinion you've got to bite your tongue you cannot say that he just had an unbelievable result just take it have a nice night now the fans will be on his back now I just they're one of them moments you get in the everybody says something you know they shouldn't say I've said it a million times but you get in that room and you think ah you can feel himself trying to dig him out at times and he thought no I shouldn't have said that really and he shouldn't he's had a brilliant result he's done a great job and he's clever what they're doing you know they got rid of Lars and they're bringing in players for next season.

44:23And as he said, three and 11 they've lost. Three and 11, which is some doing. So I hope so. I hope he's all right. But I just think sometimes you learn from experiences and I think there he's just got to... Yeah. All right, let's move on because the next game for Arsenal is, of course, the Cates-Spurs. How are you looking ahead to that one? It looks after itself. That's the good thing about it. The problem is, if Man City go and beat Newcastle before, it's two points. Two points, same games, they're playing two London derbies coming up against their two biggest rivals in London, in Tottenham and Chelsea.

45:03The momentum swings completely the other way. Completely. You could say North London derbies go out the window. You know, it's just that game. It don't matter if you're top of the league or 15th or wherever. It's a leveller. new manager comes in he'll have them running around running through brick walls and Arsenal ain't playing well enough to in my opinion to blow Tottenham away and I think this will go down I really think this league title race will go down to whoever plays first in the Premier League and I think Sky have a massive part to playing that and I do because it will be it'll be who plays first you play first it's such a Tiger Woods used to play when he played golf when he was at his pomp He always wanted to take the first tee shot.

45:49He always wanted to hit the green first, put the pressure on. And if you look, you want to play first, put the pressure on. I see it many years ago with Leicester and Tottenham and it takes its toll in the end. OK, we'll leave it at that. Thank you both very much for that. Lots to come then in the title race, especially a huge game to come for Arsenal. They are facing Spurs away. 4.30, kick off that one. Sky Sports Premier League on Super Sunday and it's a game you do not want to miss.

46:19well thank you so much for joining us tonight Wolves with a big comeback to break the hearts of the Arsenal fans who are watching at Molyneux as Arsenal didn't manage to get maximum points tonight

46:37thanks for listening to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast don't forget to hit follow so you don't miss an episode

46:48Thumbtack presents Tile Trouble. Every single time I use my sink, I make eye contact with the uneven grout on my kitchen backsplash. The crooked corners eye me, and I'm haunted by more tiling questions than I thought possible. What kind of pro can fix a backsplash? Can I replace one cracked tile, or should I replace them all? What? What if I just use Thumbtack? I can hire top-rated pros, read reviews, and compare prices with a tap. All on the app. Thumbtack knows homes. Download the app today.