Arsenal started their 2024/25 campaign in strong style with a 2-0 home win at Emirates Stadium versus Gary O’Neil’s Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Summer signing Riccardo Calafiori was named amongst the substitutes bench for Mikel Arteta, meaning it was a familiar XI that took to the field. Oleksandr Zinchenko started at left-back wearing his new number 17 shirt for the first time competitively since the change from the number 35 during the summer. Kai Havertz led the line with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka either side of the German. Jurrien Timber and Ethan Nwaneri were also on the bench with Jakub Kiwior left out with no reports of injury.
The game started in relatively low-key fashion with both teams failing to properly threaten during the opening stages. However, the chances soon came coming for Arsenal with Ben White firing wide from the edge of the Wolves penalty area on the 15th minute. That chance was soon followed by Saka striking at Jose Sa’s near post which the Wolves stopper kept out, but with Mikel Arteta’s team knocking on the door the deadlock was eventually broken midway through the half when a inch-perfect cross from Saka found the head of Havertz who’s header found the way past Sa and into the Wolves net to get Arsenal’s season up and running. The German continuing on from his fine from in the second half of the previous campaign to net his first of what will hopefully be a successful season both individually and collectively. And the lead was nearly doubled when Declan Rice played in Martinelli in the Wolves penalty area but the Brazilian’s effort was well blocked by the Wolves defence.
However, Arsenal’s lead could have been wiped out towards the end of the first half as a cross came into Arsenal’s penalty box and new Wolves signing Jørgen Stand Larsen met it with a strong header however Arsenal keeper David Raya, who had mainly acted as a spectator throughout the majority of the first half, reacted superbly to save the header with a strong hand. The save was an important moment in a game where Arsenal despite their dominance had looked sloppy at times in possession.
Despite the save, that chance gave Gary O’Neil’s side confidence and Wolves came out in the second half and they began to push Arsenal back in the opening period of the second half following the interval. Left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri fired wide of Raya’s post with a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area, and soon after, a poor pass from William Saliba allowed Matheus Cunha a chance at goal but the strike was straight at Raya as Arsenal started living dangerously.
A second goal was needed for Arsenal to calm the nerves around Emirates Stadium as Wolves grew in confidence. And they nearly got it as Thomas Partey struck just wide with his weaker left foot from range. However, soon after the Ghanian played a quick free-kick in the centre of the pitch to Havertz, the German finding Saka in his familiar position on the right hand side of the penalty area, and the young winger struck a powerful shot at the near post which flew past Sa and into the net. Giving Arsenal and Mikel Arteta the two-goal cushion they desperately needed.
Arsenal saw out the game with relative ease to claim a first three points of the season. A tough set of fixtures comes next, with the first away test coming at what is set to be a very loud Villa Park.
Player Ratings:
David Raya: 8 – One superb save in the first half and dealt with everything that came his way well
Ben White: 7 – Solid as usual
William Saliba: 6 – Had good moments but was uncharacteristically sloppy at times, including one poor error in the second half allowing a big chance for Cunha at 1-0
Gabriel: 7 – Less sloppy than Saliba, crucial to getting the clean sheet
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 7 – Strong showing on the ball but was also pretty good defensively as well, good to see from a player who was heavily criticised last season
Thomas Partey: 6 – Similar to Saliba, had good moments but was also caught in possession at times
Martin Odegaard: 8 – Ran the show at times, just such a good player both on and off the ball
Declan Rice: 6 – Quieter than usual, perhaps not quite fully up to speed yet after a busy Euros
Bukayo Saka: 8 – Superb assist, brilliant goal. A fine day’s work from the Starboy
Kai Havertz: 8 – Like Saka, got a goal and assist and had a great all-round centre-forwards performance
Gabriel Martinelli: 6 – Did ok but wasn’t seen as much as Havertz or Saka