Sloppy Gunners see off Wolves - just - to start season with a win

Arsenal 2 (Havertz 25, Saka 74)

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

Arsenal started the season with a 2-0 win at home to Wolves this afternoon - but the result was far from as comfortable as the score line suggests.

Bukaya Saka made one goal for Kai Havertz in the first half, then scored one for himself with 15 minutes left - typically cutting inside his defender and arrowing a shot home.

But between the goals the Gunners had almost been the architects of their own downfall on more than one occasion, giving the ball away numerous times in crucial areas of the pitch.

The visitors made a decent start, Matt Dohety having the first shot in anger, which winded Gabriel as the big defender blocked the Irishman's effort from inside the box.

From the Gunners it was a rather pedestrian start. They did begin to get going after about 15 minutes. One lovely back flick from Martin Odegaard set Havertz away, although the attack came to little, before both Ben White and Saka - twice - tested Jose Sa with efforts the goalkeeper held comfortably.

Declan Rice had perhaps the best chance for Arsenal in the opening stages, but lent back on his shot, which flew over the crossbar from the centre of the box.

And the Gunners did take the lead after 25 minutes. Saka, free on the right, was allowed on to his left foot, and as Sa came out to punch the cross, Havertz's head beat him to the touch and the ball nestled in the net for Arsenal's opening goal of the season.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde curled a free-kick over the bar at the other end - one of the sporadic chances which were still falling the way of the West Midlanders.

And their best chance thus far came just minutes later - David Raya preventing an equaliser with a fantastic stop. 

The Gunners squandered possession in midfield, Joao Gomes found Hwang Hee-Chan on the right and his cross was headed powerfully goalwards by debutant Jorgen Strand Larsen. 

Larsen must have thought he had scored, but Raya showed why Mikel Arteta has put so much faith in him by clawing the effort away. 

Gabriel Martinelli was quiet in the first half but did see a shot blocked as it headed for goal just before the break.

Thomas Partey, who had been guilty on more than one occasion in the first half of wasting the ball, had a chance to make it 2-0 just before the hour mark. Oleksandr Zinchenko's cross from the left was deflected into the path of Partey, whose curling shot was wide of the left-hand post.

But Partey's sloppiness continued, and when he again lost the ball in midfield minutes later, Rayan Ait-Nouri's shot had Raya scrambling across his goal.

Wolves were encouraged. A scissor-kick from Rodrigo Gomes was deflected wide - as the visitors had the majority of the possession in the early stages of the second period. The home fans were getting restless - and rightly so.

The sloppiness was catching. Gabriel the next to present Wolves with the ball, allowing substitute Matheus Cunha a free shot, which was straight at Raya.

Arteta brought on Jurrien Timber to replace Zinchenko in an attempt to sure up the backline and immediately Arsenal looked better.

First Odegaard tested Sarr, then Havertz found Saka, who once again was allowed to cut in on his favoured left foot - and this time fired the ball into the net, to ease the considerable tension around the Emirates.

Arsenal know the margin of error in this league if they are to pip City this season is virtually zero. They will have to improve - and quickly.

Teams:

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, White, Partey, Gabriel, Saka (Trossard 76), Odegaard, Martinelli, Zinchenko (Timber 69), Havertz, Rice (Jesus 85)

Wolves: Sa, Doherty, Ait-Nouri, Mario, Joao Gomez, Larsen, Hee-Chan, Mosquera, Martins Gomes, Toti, Bellegarde (Cunha 57)

Referee: Jarred Gillett

Picture: The Emirates Stadium last night (Picture: Charlie Stong)