Manchester United had the chance to replace Arsenal in third place when they faced Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Tuesday night but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw his team suffer a 2-1 loss despite taking the lead in the crucial game in which the Red Devils finished with 10 men.
The result saw the Red Devils remain fifth with 61 points instead, behind Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference and one point behind Arsenal as the race for to finish in the Premier League top four this season becomes more intense by the day.
And while Arsenal fans would have been seriously happy to see Scott McTominay’s opener for Solskjaer’s side cancelled out by Diogo Jota’s first half strike and an own goal from Chris Smalling, one realisation after the game would have made the Gunners faithful keep calm again.
That’s because Arsenal would still have to face this same Wolves side in the Premier League in what has shaped up to be a tricky final run of games for Unai Emery’s men this season.
The trip to Wolves is one of five away games Arsenal have to play in their final seven league matches of the EPL season.
The tricky run for Arsenal begins with a trip to face a rejuvenated Everton side who head into that game – the first of three consecutive home games for them in the league – on a high after back-to-back 2-0 wins over Arsenal’s London rivals, Chelsea and West Ham United.
What’s more, Everton have kept a clean sheet in four of the last five matches and won three games in that period. But Alex Iwobi’s Arsenal will be confident of getting a positive result at Goodison Park as they are on a six-match unbeaten run in the league while also winning seven of their last nine matches.
However, it is the game at the end of April against Wolves at Molineux which would be of great concern to Gunners fans. Having seen arch-rivals Manchester United lose twice to Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, they would be hoping similar fate does not befall their team when they face Wolves on April 24.
At the moment, Wolves occupy seventh spot on the league table with 47 points and have got points of each of the teams in the top six. Santo’s men won at Spurs, drew at Arsenal and Liverpool, and have beaten Chelsea and Man. United in the league as well as Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Man. City is the only side among the top six Wolves have failed to beat this season after drawing 1-1 at home earlier in the season before falling 3-0 to Pep Guardiola’s title favourites at the Etihad Stadium back in January.
And Wolves could get one more chance to beat City, though, should both teams win their FA Cup semi-final matches.
Will Arsenal be able to avoid slipping up at Wolves like Manchester United have done?
