Title Race Shifts to Man City’s Favour as Arsenal Squander Again

Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions suffered a significant setback on Wednesday evening as the league leaders surrendered a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 with bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. The result means Mikel Arteta’s side no longer holds complete control of the title race, handing the mathematical advantage to Manchester City.

The Gunners appeared to be cruising toward a routine victory after Bukayo Saka opened the scoring in the fifth minute—ending a 15-match goal drought—and Piero Hincapié added a second in the 56th minute. However, a spirited fightback from a Wolves side seemingly destined for the Championship exposed familiar defensive frailties in the Arsenal setup.

Hugo Bueno ignited the comeback with a 20-yard curling effort before 19-year-old debutant Tom Edozie forced a dramatic equalizer in the fourth minute of added time. A defensive mix-up between Gabriel and goalkeeper David Raya saw Edozie’s strike deflected in off Riccardo Calafiori, sparking jubilant scenes for the hosts and leaving the visitors stunned.

The Statistical Shift

The draw marks the first time in Premier League history that a team starting the day at the bottom of the table avoided defeat against the league leaders after trailing by two or more goals. While Arsenal remain top of the table, Manchester City sit just five points behind with a crucial game in hand. This shift in the standings means that if City win their remaining 12 fixtures—including the head-to-head clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium this April—they will secure the title regardless of other results.

The Gunners’ form has become a growing concern, as the North London side has managed only two wins in their last seven league outings. This recent slump has seen them drop seven points from winning positions in 2026 alone, fueling a narrative of psychological fragility that former striker Alan Smith suggested would lead to the “bottle” word being used frequently in the coming days.

Arteta Urges Reflection Ahead of North London Derby

Speaking after the match, a visibly frustrated Mikel Arteta did not shy away from the criticism directed at his team’s composure.

“Any bullet, take it, because we didn’t perform at the level required,” Arteta said. “Certain basics we have to do, we did them so poorly, one after the other. It is better not to judge it [now]; we are all too emotional. We need to go through the pain and look in the mirror.”

The timing of the slump is particularly precarious. Arsenal face a daunting run of London derbies, starting with a trip to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Spurs will be led by new manager Igor Tudor, providing a “new manager bounce” challenge for an Arsenal side Saka described as feeling “flat.”

Wolves Find Hope Amid Relegation Battle

For Wolves manager Rob Edwards, the result was a testament to his side’s resilience. “We knew there is a massive pressure on Arsenal at the minute,” Edwards noted, highlighting the psychological toll the title race appears to be taking on the North London side.

While Wolves remain favourites for the drop, the point ends a nine-match losing streak against the Gunners and provides a blueprint for how to unsettle the leaders: high pressure and clinical exploitation of defensive indecision.

Arsenal must now recalibrate ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. As Alan Smith observed on Sky Sports: “It’s in Manchester City’s hands now. They can almost feel the nerves of this Arsenal team.”