10-man Arsenal hold on to a marginal win over Wolves

• Arsenal v Wolves

• Arsenal win 1-0 over Wolves at Molineux

• Gabriel Martinelli saw a controversial send-off.

• First, win for Arsenal in 2022

Gabriel Magalhaes ended Arsenal’s five-game run without a win but the Gunners were forced to cling on for a 1-0 Premier League victory over Wolves after Gabriel Martinelli saw a controversial red card.

A disappointing start to the 2022 calendar saw Arsenal eliminated from the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest – not the first time and miss out on a place in the EFL Cup final at the hands of Liverpool, but they got back to winning ways on Thursday night.

Gabriel punished Wolves’ inability to turn their superiority into chances with an opportunistic finish as claims for a foul on goalkeeper Jose Sa were ignored by referee Michael Oliver.

Arsenal players celebrate after Gabriel Maghalaes scored the only goal in the match against Wolves in a Premier League clash on Thursday, Feb 10 2022. | PHOTO: Getty Images |

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli receiving two yellow cards in the space of five seconds gave the hosts hope late in the second half, but they were unable to avoid slipping five points behind Arsenal in a blow to their top-four chances.

Openings were few and far between in the first half but Gabriel took his chance in the 25th minute to put the Gunners in front against the run of play.

Alexandre Lacazette just about beat Jose Sa to Ben White’s knockdown and knocked the ball on to Gabriel, who was left with a simple finish from inside the six-yard box.

Wolves were handed a boost when Martinelli reacted to not being awarded a free-kick by fouling Daniel Podence at a throw-in and sending Chiquinho to the ground after following the ball, earning two quick-fire bookings.

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli was sent off in the 69th minute in the Premier League clash against Wolves. | PHOTO: Getty Images |

Bruno Lage’s side saw an own goal by Granit Xhaka from the resulting free-kick ruled out for offside against Raul Jimenez, while Lacazette missed a chance to put the result beyond doubt in the 72nd minute.

Rob Holding replaced Bukayo Saka as Mikel Arteta looked to tighten things up at the back and he made an important block to keep Chiquinho out, ensuring the three points went back to north London.

Thanks to the win, Arsenal are now sitting on the fifth position on the Premier League table, one point behind fourth-placed West-Ham united albeit with two games in hand. Should the gunners win their two games in hand, they will move fourth and just two points behind third placed Chelsea.

Wolves are now stuck in the eighth position with 34 points.

Arsenal will be next in action on Saturday when they host Brentford at the Emirates while Wolves will seek to get back to winning ways when they make a trip to London to play  Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.