Arsenal's Title Hopes Suffer Major Blow in Dramatic Wolves Draw
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has delivered a sobering assessment of his former club's Premier League title credentials following a shocking 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. While downplaying the long-term significance of the result, Keown admitted the Gunners desperately missed "important" forward Kai Havertz during their dramatic collapse at Molineux.
From Comfort to Collapse: Arsenal's Nightmare Unfolds
The Premier League leaders appeared destined for a routine victory when Bukayo Saka headed them ahead within just five minutes of kickoff. Their dominance continued after halftime as Piero Hincapie doubled Arsenal's advantage, seemingly putting the game beyond a Wolves side that had managed just one win all season.
However, in a stunning reversal of fortune, Hugo Bueno curled home a spectacular strike to halve the deficit with thirty minutes remaining. The drama reached its peak in injury time when Tom Edozie completed an improbable comeback for the league's bottom club, securing a dramatic 2-2 equalizer that sent shockwaves through the title race.
Keown's Candid Analysis: Missing Pieces and Wasted Opportunities
"I can't say I didn't see it coming because it didn't look comfortable for Arsenal," three-time title winner Keown stated during his analysis for Premier League Productions. "It just felt like we were hoping we could win it rather than going and grabbing it. This will be a lesson for the group."
The former defender emphasized that Arsenal had squandered a "great opportunity" to extend their lead over Manchester City, who can now reduce the gap to just two points with a victory in their game in hand. Keown stressed the psychological impact of such collapses, noting that teams "can't keep going ahead and getting pegged back" without consequences.
The Havertz Factor: Arsenal's Absent Match-Winner
Keown specifically highlighted the continued absence of German forward Kai Havertz as particularly damaging to Arsenal's prospects. Havertz has managed just three Premier League appearances this season due to persistent injury problems and faces at least another game on the sidelines.
"I would like to see Kai Havertz back, he's becoming maybe all too important because he's been injured again," Keown lamented. "That's not his fault but it's been painful. You need to get people back because it hurts the group. You need that match-winner, someone who gives everyone belief and puts the game out of sight."
Arteta's Frustration and the Road Ahead
A visibly disappointed Mikel Arteta acknowledged his team's shortcomings in the aftermath, stating: "We're very disappointed with the end result, but I think we have to fault ourselves. The performance in the second half doesn't show the level and the standards required in the Premier League to win in the manner that we should have won the game."
The Arsenal manager emphasized that his players' attitude and desire weren't in question, but rather their execution during critical moments. With crucial London derbies against Tottenham and Chelsea looming, Arteta stressed the need for immediate improvement.
Title Race Implications and Historical Context
This surprising result represents a significant setback for Arsenal's quest to secure their first Premier League title since 2004. They now face the daunting prospect of maintaining their slender advantage over a Manchester City side that has captured six of the last eight championships.
Should City defeat Newcastle United in their upcoming fixture, Arsenal's lead would shrink to just two points before they even take the field against their north London rivals. This dramatic turn of events underscores the unforgiving nature of Premier League title races, where seemingly comfortable positions can evaporate in moments.
Keown concluded with a message of resilience, stating: "It's been a bad night but there's so long left of the season. You get knocked down, you get back up again, that's the life of a professional footballer. Arsenal need to turn it around but even if they had won tonight it wouldn't have been over and it's certainly not over now they've drawn."
