Bruised Arsenal seek healing win at Wolves to re-ignite title charge

LONDON : A bruising few days has provided a stark reality check to the growing euphoria at Arsenal but all is not lost for the Gunners who will now focus solely on trying to win their first Premier League title for 20 years.

Arsenal were handed an open goal when Liverpool lost to Crystal Palace last weekend but a few hours later were left stunned by a 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa, their first Premier League loss of 2024.

Those results handed Manchester City control of a three-way Premier League title race with six games remaining with Pep Guardiola's side leading Arsenal and Liverpool by two points.

Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final exit at Bayern Munich on Wednesday was another gut blow for Mikel Arteta's side who have suddenly lost their sparkle.

There is nothing like another game to re-focus minds, however, and Arsenal's trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday offers the perfect opportunity to get back on track and heap some pressure on Manchester City by moving back to the top of the standings.

"On Saturday we have a big, big, big game," Arteta, seeking to draw a line under three successive games without a win, said. "We're still playing for a Premier League and I really want it.

"We have to show now that we are capable of turning this around. I can guarantee you by tomorrow we are fully focused on Wolves and everybody's lifted.

"What we still have to play is beautiful."

Encouragingly for Arsenal they have won their last five league games against Wolves, who are on a five-match winless run in all competitions as they sit bang in the middle of the table.

"We've got Wolves away, and that's where our big reaction is going to happen," Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said after the 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich.

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