DAVE PORTER DISCUSSES 6 THINGS WE LEARNT FROM WOLVES DEFEAT TO ARSENAL.
1. No one seemed to believe we could get anything from this game.
Seasons are not defined by games away from home against the league leaders. Given the hosts good form and the visitors selection issues, this result here felt an inevitability which seemed to channel its way through to the players and was punctuated by conceding two early goals. Whether the team was set up to be positionally disciplined and negative is uncertain, but Wolves were passive in the press from the outset. Of more concern though was an unwillingness to try to do anything when in possession other than attempt safety first football. This routinely ended with a string of negative passes across defence and midfield culminating in a lump of the ball up the pitch, which invariably led to a transfer of possession. The timing of the goals and a fear of sustaining a drubbing may have influenced here, but the mentality seemed to be one of damage limitation rather than a belief that a positive result was possible in this fixture.
2. We missed key players.
Whilst risking stating the obvious, first team regulars are first team regulars for a reason. They are the best players at the club in those positions and we are not currently a side that carries depth enough to offset a large proportion of the first eleven being absent. Injuries happen, but discipline has been an issue since the start of the season and the chickens came home to roost. You could argue that there is every chance that Wolves would have lost this game even with a full-strength side and actually these suspensions were well timed, but that does not detract from the obvious reduction in quality with four key players unavailable.
3. The Korean Guy’s form.
Hwang’s contributions in front of goal have been a massive bonus for Wolves this season. Goals however have masked what seems a troubling loss of form in terms of team contribution. Whether the team adjustment following Neto’s absence has played some part, Hwang aside from his goals is low key struggling. His control of the ball seems to have left him. The number of times that Hwang fails to control simple passes is becoming more and more frustrating and prevents Wolves moving up the pitch. His passing has also become less reliable and invariably gives the ball away. Hwang has had such a good start to the season that recent displays can be overlooked, but there has been a marked dip in performance levels. Hwang has played a lot of football domestically and internationally, travelling a lot of miles in the process, he may need a well-earned rest, but given Wolves lack of depth in this area of the pitch, respite may not come until after the January window. This is not to dig out one of the top Wolves performers of the season, it’s just something to keep an eye on.
4. Cunha a bargain?
The guy gets through a lot of work. He is currently Wolves only real output in an attacking sense and the only one likely to cause opposing teams issues. The goals are also starting to flow, and Cunha seems to now be adjusting well to the demands of Premier League. Historically any conversation about Cunha tends to be followed with a caveat of Wolves overpaying for the Brazilian in desperation, but right now, he is undeniably Wolves’ go to man and is showing signs that he has the potential to be worth every bit of the money Wolves paid and maybe considerably more.
5. There will be changes in January.
Fabio Silva again failed to feature. Prior to the late Wolves goal, young Zimbabwean Tawanda Chirewa was set to be introduced ahead of Silva. Whilst not positionally equivalent, it is hard to see Silva at Molineux beyond January. Add this to the obvious lack of depth Wolves have in attack, you feel like changes both in and out are likely in January. Wolves’ need for another option as a wide forward is obvious, ironic given that this has been a position that seems to have been overburdened with in the past.
6. This defeat was easier to take than VAR robbery.
This was not a disaster of a performance. Wolves were resolute in staying in the game and were nearly rewarded for that in the final stages with a late goal. The last ten minutes of the game were enough to keep momentum going for the much more important home games that follow. Losing to an excellent Arsenal team who in the first 15 minutes would have been good enough to comfortably beat better teams than Wolves, is far from catastrophic. The rout that was threatened did not materialise, and in the end, Arsenal were forced into defensive substitutions and time wasting that Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth team would have been pleased with. When all is said and done, losing to a better team is much easier to accept than being robbed by poor officiating, which seems to have been the way of things of late. Wolves will come out of the game feeling positive and ready for the next two home games that will define the remainder of the season.
ARTICLE BY DAVE PORTER
Wolverhampton born, East Sussex based supporter. Old enough to have seen the descent to the bottom, young enough to not have experienced the days my friend. Not many Wolves fans to celebrate or commiserate with round these parts, so had to find an outlet to discuss the enormous highs, crushing lows and share the frustrations that only come with following Wolves.
