"Four years is a long time in football. But it's a sign of growing up. Games that felt like opportunities to make statements have become chores for this Arsenal team. Their Premier League season is essentially a countdown. You may like A trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday was not supposed to raise a pulse. It was a footnote in a television schedule dominated by the Champions League:"
"if you were a neutral, you would be forgiven for not knowing it was even on. The perfect match, the perfect occasion, for being just a little bit boring. Goal difference is nice but growing up is knowing that it's more important to conserve energy, ensure that you get the job done and put in a professional display, holding the team 19 places below you at arm's length."
"Yes, the majority of the night was boring enough. Arsenal started quickly with a Bukayo Saka header, and then looked to manage the match, allowing Wolves possession, safe in the knowledge that Edwards' side were up against arguably the best defence in Europe. Until the 90th minute, the bedlam of a Wolves equaliser, players on either side squaring up with one another, and Gabriels Jesus and Magalhaes remonstrating with anyone who would give them the time of day."
Arsenal have shifted toward pragmatic, professional performances, treating many matches as chores rather than chances for dramatic statements. The team emphasizes conserving energy and securing results over chasing spectacle, aiming to maintain distance from lower-ranked opponents. A midweek trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers was expected to be low-key amid a Champions League-focused schedule. Arsenal opened with a Bukayo Saka header and then managed the match by ceding possession while trusting a strong defence. The game remained largely uneventful until a 90th-minute Wolves equaliser provoked confrontations, with players from both sides squaring up and remonstrations ensuing.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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