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Wolves 2-2 Arsenal: Fans clash, players and staff in heated full time flare up

Wolves 2-2 Arsenal saw fans clash inside and outside the ground, with players and staff themselves getting in a heated full time flare up.

It was quite the dramatic Premier League fixture at Molineux, Arsenal, the league leaders, taking a 2-0 lead with goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie, only for Wolves to go on and fought back, Hugo Bueno with a stunning curled shot on 60 minutes, then debutant teenager Tom Edozie scored a 94th-minute deflected equaliser (off Riccardo Calafiori) to snatch a draw, and dent Arsenal’s title hopes.

Tensions boiled over at the end, with Gabriel Jesus sending Wolves’ Yerson Mosquera to ground, that led to a melee involving players and staff from both sides. Mikel Arteta rushed in to calm things, Jesus was booked.

We also saw streamers StableRonaldo and Marlon in a Wolves hospitality box. Despite wearing Wolves kits initially, they then celebrated Arsenal’s goals, winding up the home fans who then turned on them.

Wolves fans then had the last laugh when their side scored the late equaliser, leading to taunts. Ty also was seen being mocked.

Nicolas Jover was seen fuming after Wolves’ equaliser, only to be pulled and dragged back to the bench by Mikel Arteta.

Wolves fans were left absolutely furious after it appeared streamers ‘StableRonaldo’ and ‘Marlon’, seen wearing Wolves shirts, celebrated Arsenal goals in the home box.

The Wolves crowd around them then celebrated in the streamers’ faces when Wolves equalised in the last minute.

There were also chants from the home end of “2nd again, ole ole ole!”, Arsenal frustrated at bottling their lead.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: “Very tough to accept it. In the second half we did not perform in the way we should and the way we require to win a Premier League match. It is better not to judge it, we are all too emotional about it. You have to take the hit because we deserve it.

“It is very easy with emotion to say things that can damage the team. Everyone wants to do their best. Nobody questions that. Today we weren’t at the level, at the races and at the standards that are required. And when you do that and you want to be at this level you have to take the hit. You have to go through tough periods. Today at the last minute, we paid the price. We have to do basic things much better than we have done.”

“The enjoyment comes from moments of suffering as well. If you believe you can come into any game in the Premier League and you don’t have to go through tough periods, that’s not the reality.”

On not making the most of being in dominant positions: “Depends. Against Leeds, it didn’t happen. Today we need to accept it. We need to be critical of ourselves because in the second half it was not good enough. In the league, it is the reality that we have not been consistent over the last few months. You put the cups in between, that’s a different story. When you don’t perform at the standards required you have to accept that.

“Now, you have to stand up. When they have a moment of difficulty, and we feel really frustrated with ourselves, you have the perfect game against Spurs away to go and show how much you want it and show how good we are. That’s it. Talk on the pitch.”

Arteta said to BBC Match of the Day: “Incredibly disappointed that we gave two points away. I think we need to fault ourselves and give credit to Wolves. But what we done in the second half was nowhere near our standards that we have to play in order to win a game in the Premier League.

“There are certain things, certain basics that today we are very far from our level, and when you don’t perform you can get punished, and we got punished and we have to accept the hits because that can happen when you are on top.

“Certain basics we have to do we did them so poorly one after the other. And then you have no dominance, no control in the game.”

On what he has to do to not let this season slip away: “Staying very close to them and reminding them how good they are.”

Wolves boss Rob Edwards, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “Obviously, really pleased after going 2-0 down to a team like that to show the character and spirit and fight that we did. I’m really proud of the lads tonight and what they produced. Never gave up – that has got to be a given for us. We are showing a lot of fight and quality in the right moments. Going 2-0 down against them it could’ve been a really difficult night but it didn’t.”

On youngster Tom Edozie scoring on his debut: “Obviously, we have a shorter squad now and some of the younger players know this could be their opportunity. I was putting my arm round him when he was coming on and I said ‘this could be your moment now, mate. Go and make it happen.’ And he did, so really pleased for him.”

On Huge Bueno’s goal: “Yeah, it was a lovely finish. He’s got a lovely left for, Hugo. As he opened out and shaped up, you sort of thought the angle’s right for him here and it’s nice to see that one nestle in the top corner and get us back in the game.”

Edwards, speaking to Sky Sports: “It was a great moment. A good night for the football club. It was only a draw but we are fighting. We know the position we are in but we are never going to give up. I’m really proud of the players tonight.”

On the fans: “We want to build a connection. We have to try and find a way to energise the team and the players in difficult moments. We didn’t win but when you are 2-0 down, it felt like it. The fans are well within their rights to be angry but during the game it will help the players if they have their backing.”

On Tom Edozie: “Sometimes we have a feeling on the bench and Tom has done well in training. He took his moment, really special moment for him.”

Wolves winger Tom Edozie, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “It’s a dream come true. Getting my debut is one thing and then scoring on my debut is another. Just so thankful, just so happy.”

On whether he’s claiming the goal after it came off Riccardo Calafiori: “100 per cent, I’ll take the goal. Definitely my goal.

“As I was watching the game I saw the game becoming a bit tense and we had more control of the ball than before so I knew that going into the last couple minutes of the game it was going to be more end-to-end, so I just tried to do as best as I can. Luckily I scored.”

On the feeling when he was told he was coming on: “Obviously, I got a bit nervous. My legs started to shake a little bit but as soon as I got on that pitch i I was raring to go.”

On scoring: “The ball dropped to me and just trying to keep it as low as people and just as hard as I can. They couldn’t stop it, so it was my goal.

“Nothing was really going through my head, it was just loads of different emotions. I was so happy to be there when fans were cheering. Something I dream of.”

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “Disappointed. Not much else to say. There was a big difference in how we played in the first half and the second half. We dropped our standards and we got punished for it.

On whether nerves are creeping into the side: “Time to focus on ourselves, improve our standards and improve our performances and it is in our control.”

 Saka, speaking to Sky Sports on whether the dressing room is flat: “Yeah, it’s very flat. Very disappointed with the result and especially with the way we played in the second half. Far from the standards we’ve set this season.

“It’s time for us to reflect on the last few performances and fix the issues immediately, so we can get back to winning games, go on a run and build momentum because we’ve lost that a bit right now.

“I just think we have to get back to our level. Do the basics right and we’ve got more than enough quality in this team to win games, especially in the games where we’ve been dropping points in recently. We need to fix that and that’s all our focus is right now.”

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