Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard, scored twice as the Gunners, on Saturday, won 2-0 at Wolves to capitalise on Manchester City’s defeat and open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Arsenal were already guaranteed top spot in the Premier League over the festive period after Brentford stunned the Premier League champions earlier on Saturday, but with new boss Julen Lopetegui watching in the stands, Wolves frustrated the Gunners in a goalless first half at Molineux.
It looked as though Arsenal would head into the World Cup break with just a three-point lead at the summit until Odegaard tapped Fabio Vieira’s cross in from close range in the 55th minute.
The Norwegian later clinched a seismic victory for Mikel Arteta’s side with his second in the 75th minute.
Arsenal’s 12th league victory of the season opened up a 14-point buffer between themselves and fifth-placed Manchester United in the race for Champions League football.
READ ALSO: Again, Chelsea lose 1-0 to Newcastle
Arsenal ended the day five points clear of second place Manchester City, the biggest lead the Gunners have had at the top of the Premier League table since December 13, 2013, while Wolves will be at the bottom of the EPL table on Christmas Day for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign, a season in which they finished bottom and were relegated.
The Gunners will also sit top of the Premier League table on Christmas Day for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign, a season in which they ultimately finished third.
Arsenal are the only side to have scored in every Premier League game this season, while they have also got the joint-fewest goals conceded (11) and joint-most clean sheets so far this term (7).
Martin Odegaard is Arsenal’s top Premier League goalscorer this season (6 goals), while only Kevin De Bruyne, James Maddison and Leandro Trossard (6 each) have been involved in more away goals in the competition this season than Odegaard (5 – 4 goals, 1 assist).
West Ham visit Arsenal on Boxing Day after the World Cup break while Everton host Wolves on the same day.
- EFCC chair: How Yahaya Bello declined invitation for interrogation - April 23, 2024
- EFCC chairman: I’ll resign if Yahaya Bello is not prosecuted - April 23, 2024
- EFCC: Yahaya Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi account to pay child’s school fee - April 23, 2024
