By Nick Mashita, Press Association.
Arsenal sent out a title warning after Martin Odegaard’s double sent them five points clear at the top of the Premier League. The captain’s second-half brace earned a 2-0 win at Wolves and showed Manchester City their crown is under threat.
Mikel Arteta’s side are genuine contenders, grinding out a victory to put daylight between them and the reigning champions.
They seized on City’s 2-1 defeat to Brentford with a performance which demonstrated their steel and a slick opener proved they can find the magic when needed.
Wolves will be bottom at Christmas but held their own for long spells and there remains reasons to be positive with Julen Lopetegui’s era imminent.
Chairman Jeff Shi called the search for Bruno Lage’s replacement painful after Lopetegui initially rejected the club and Michael Beale performed a U-turn to stay at QPR.
Introduced to the home fans before the game, Lopetegui took the acclaim during a lap of the pitch six years after Wolves first tried to appoint him.
City’s surprise loss gave them the chance to take command at the top but they were initially frustrated by a determined Wolves.
On Arsenal’s side, a delightful ball from Jesus gave Vieira space in the box, his cross was turned in by Odegaard.
From then it was comfortable for the Gunners and Odegaard added a second with 15 minutes left. Dexter Lembikisa lost the ball to Gabriel Martinelli who teed up Oleksandr Zinchenko to cross. The ball fell for Martinelli who was denied by Sa but Odegaard controlled the rebound and lashed into the bottom corner.
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