Boom Saka-Laca!

Others will have used the phrase or this image, I’m sure, as I’m sure that we’ve been waiting to do this since Saka broke into the team... but Boom Saka-Laca! 

Which sums up the extremely satisfying performance and result at what is a very difficult place to go. Because make no mistake, Wolves are a difficult side to beat. They concede very few goals - especially at home - and whilst they'd only faced clubs in the relegation zone since the restart they'd continued in their stingy ways; they hadn't let in a Premier League goal for 405 minutes of playing time before kick-off. That was the magnitude of the task facing an Arsenal team who hadn't beaten a side placed above them in the table in an away game since September 2015, when an Alexis Sanchez hat-trick inspired them to victory over eventual champions Leicester City. 

However this Arsenal side are suddently showing a resilience that has frankly been lacking for years. It would appear that whatever Arteta has been drilling into them is finally starting to have an effect. Taking the Manchester City result as not unexpected and the Brighton game as an anomaly, perhaps we are finally seeing a move away from the team being seen as a soft touch who can easily be got at. We are seeing resilience from even the likes of Mustafi and (dare I say it) David Luiz, and that's 4 wins on the bounce.

Before I cover the game, I'd like to address the players who remain missing from the squad. Firstly, whilst I love watching Mesut Ozil play it feels to me that the vast majority of Arsenal fans - as well as the club heirarchy - are now done with him. If it were up to me, I'd be looking to ship him out on loan next season - a number of Turkish clubs are apparently interested - and even if it means paying a chunk of his wages that will at least free up funds that can be used in summer transfer dealings.

And it cannot go unnoticed that the new-found discipline of the side can be traced back to the dropping of Guendouzi. Whilst he is a young player of immense promise, he remains undisciplined and apparently slow on the uptake, and with the return to the squad of Torreira - and the emergence of Joe Willock and the versatile Maitland-Niles as backup to the current midfield pairing, along with the mooted summer arrival of Partey - perhaps it's time to cash in and let him move on for what would be a decent profit.

As I wrote earlier this week, each successive match will serve to crystallise Arteta's thoughts about how he wants to start to reshape the squad over the summer. I think that this match will have backed up his thinking.

So to the game, and first a note on team selection. Soares for Bellerin was inevitable, as the latter will continue to need to be eased back into the side and Cedric's retun to match fitness will help Arteta manage that. Whilst I remain to be convinced that Bellerin's career will continue on an upward curve after his ACL injury, I am personally still prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, and his return can now be better managed.

I am somewhat mystified as to how Holding does not get into the current back three; I'd certainly have him in the side over Kolasinac. Perhaps the hulking presence of Adama Traore in the Wolves side had something to do with that. But it was also telling that even when Tierney was withdrawn Arteta preferred to bring on Maitland-Niles than shift Kolosinac out to wing-back. Perhaps for reasons of mobility? Either way AMN did well, but it does seem harsh on Holding who has barely put a foot wrong since the restart.

The only other change of note was the return of Saka for the indisposed Pepe (his wife having just given birth, so we can excuse him), and the young man initially struggled to come to terms with a role on the right hand side of the front line. But, as we now know, he got to grips with it as the game wore on.

The first half was pretty even, with Traore consistently the main threat, and it took a while for Arsenal's midfielders to start to find the forward line with consistency. However, Wolves were kept at arm's length quite comfortably for most of the time; although the threat of Traore was never to be underestimated. He wouldn't look out of place as an NFL running-back, such is his physique, and he has blistering pace.

There were one or two other first half moments of concern, not least when Tierney was left exposed with two attackers with Kolasinac nowhere to be seen, and one or two other sniffs at goal; but sniffs were all they were and it was Arsenal who created the best opportunites of the half - for Auba and Nketiah - before Saka finished off a nice move with a crisp volley for his first Premier League goal. It's been quite a week for the young man, with the goal adding to the delight of the contract signing.

Wolves drove on in the second half, and it was only quick thinking from the decisive and almost immaculate Martinez - who came rushing from his line to deny Traore the time to pick his spot after he had once again exposed Kolsinac's lack of pace and positional ability - that prevented an equaliser. However, Arsenal managed the game well, with some sensible substitutions thrown in. It was two of those, Willock and Lacazette, who combined for the decisive second goal - Laca's first away goal in a very long time, and very well-taken it was too. And there was still time for Willock to scuff an opportunity laid on a plate by the unselfish Aubameyang to make it three.

I am increasingly impressed with Arteta, by the way. He is getting the players to gel, and also not letting the excitement of successive wins carry the players away. He continues to shape the performances, and keep them grounded; including Saka who he pointed out still has a lot to learn. He has learnt at the feet of two masters of their profession, of course, and hopefully a glittering managerial career awaits him too?

So another well-organised and disciplined perfomance from Arsenal, and things are looking more promising. Other results dictate that Champions League qualification will be something of a miracle from here, but suddenly the next few games look a little less daunting. And Spurs are now trailing in our wake. Whisper it, but roll on St Totteringham's Day...

So Leicester at The Emirates is next, followed by the afore-mentioned Spurs at 'the best stadium in the country' - no trophies are awarded for that, of course. But one game at a time, please.

I'll be back on Wednesday. I can't wait for the next game! In the meantime so yourselves a favour and stay out of the pubs, please.