KARL WHITEHOUSE LOOKS AT THE HISTORY OF WOLVES V ARSENAL
FIRST MEETINGS
- Division 1 – The first meeting of the two clubs in Division 1 was on the 24th September 1904 the game finished 2-0 to Woolwich Arsenal this was before they changed there name to Arsenal.
- FA Cup – The first meeting of the two clubs in the FA Cup was in the 3rd Round on the 9th January 1926 the game finished 1-1 and this went to a replay which was played on 13th January, the game finished 1-0 to Arsenal.
- Premier League – The first meeting of the two clubs in the Premier league was on the 26th December 2003 the game finished 3-0 to Arsenal.
MATCH OF THE DAY
The FA Cup 4th Round game took place on January 24, 1999. Arsenal defeated Wolves 2-1. Wolves’ goal was scored by Havard Flo, while Arsenal’s goals came from Marc Overmars and Dennis Bergkamp. The match was attended by 27,511 fans.
OTHER MEETINGS
Wolves played Arsenal in a preseason friendly 7th August 1992 Wolves 0 Arsenal 0.
Wolves 0: Stowell, Rankine (Ashley 21), Thompson, Venus, Westley, Downing, Birch, Cook (Steele 80), Bull (Roberts 66), Mutch (Boye 70), Dennison (Burke 75).
Arsenal 0: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Hillier, Bould, Adams, Merson, Campbell, Smith, Jensen, Limpar.
Attendance: 5,450
Wolves played Arsenal in a preseason friendly 7th August 1995 Wolves 0 Arsenal 3.
Wolves 0: Jones, Smith (Rankine HT), Masters, Emblen, Shirtliff (de Wolf 63), Richards, Goodman (Daley HT), D Kelly, Bull, Cowans (Thomas 76), Dennison (Froggatt HT).
Subs de Bont, Venus.
Arsenal 2: (Platt 20, Wright 33): Seaman, Dixom, Winterburn, Jenson Adams, Bould, (Keown 83), Parlour, Platt, Wright, Bergkamp, Merson
Attendance: 22,584
RECENT MEETINGS
Premier League – The most recent game was on the 17th August 2024 the game finished 2-0 to Arsenal with the scorers for Arsenal were Kai Havertz & Bukayo Saka in front of 60,261 fans.
FA Cup – The most recent game was in the 4th Round on the 29th January 2005 the game finished 2-0 to Arsenal.
League Cup – The most recent game was in the 4th Round on the 2nd December 2003 the game finished 5-1 to Arsenal.
LAST 6
24th February 2022 Arsenal 2 Wolves 1 at Emirates Stadium
12th November 2022 Wolves 0 Arsenal 2 at Molineux
28th May 2023 Arsenal 5 Wolves 0 at Emirates Stadium
2nd December 2023 Arsenal 2 Wolves 1 at Emirates Stadium
20th April 2024 Wolves 0 Arsenal 2 at Molineux
17th August 2024 Arsenal 2 Wolves 0 at Emirates Stadium
DO YOU REMEMBER?
WOLVES 3 ARSENAL 1 24TH APRIL 2019
Wolves entered this match without a win in their last three games across all competitions.
The team started strongly against Arsenal, with Joao Moutinho curling a 25-yard effort just wide and Raul Jimenez failing to connect with Jonny’s through ball. Wolves eventually broke the deadlock when Ruben Neves converted a stunning free kick after Monreal fouled Jonny in a central position.
Their lead was doubled through a well-worked short corner routine. Jonny delivered a precise cross, allowing Matt Doherty to rise above the defense and head the ball past goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who couldn’t react in time.
Wolves capitalized further when Arsenal’s defensive error allowed Diogo Jota to charge forward with pace and slot the ball past Leno for a third goal. The goalkeeper was unable to keep it out, and Arsenal’s woes deepened.
Late in the game, Arsenal pulled one back through a Sokratis header from Granit Xhaka’s corner, reducing the deficit to 3-1. However, Wolves held firm, with no further goals added, securing a vital win.
Wolves 3 (Neves 28, Doherty 37, Jota 45): Patricio, Doherty, Jonny, Boly, Coady, Bennett, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho (Gibbs-White 90), Jota (Cavaleiro 78), Jimenez (Traore 82).
Subs Ruddy, Vinagre, Saiss, Costa.
Arsenal 1 (Sokratis 80): Leno, Maitland-Niles, Monreal, Sokratis, Koscielny, Xhaka, Torreira (Guendouzi 59), Mkhitaryan (Kolasinac 58), Ozil, Iwobi (Nketiah 71), Lacazette.
Subs Cech, Mustafi, Elneny, Willock
Attendance: 31,436
INTERESTING FACTS FROM THE GAME.
Diogo Jota nets the 200th league goal scored by Wolves in the premier league.
This was the 100th league meeting between the two sides.
a little more history
WOLVES 5 ARSENAL 1 20TH NOVEMBER 1971
The game began in freezing wintry conditions at Molineux, with Arsenal initially looking the brighter side. Early pressure from Arsenal resulted in a corner, which was confidently cleared by the Wolves defense. Arsenal maintained their attacking momentum, forcing Wolves to scramble clearances under pressure.
Wolves eventually launched a rare counterattack, with Wagstaffe delivering dangerous crosses into the Arsenal penalty area. One of his crosses caused chaos in the box, but Hibbitt’s strike flew into the crowd instead of troubling the keeper.
Tensions flared midway through the first half, with Munro and Storey engaging in a heated exchange near the edge of the box. Both players were spoken to by the referee but avoided bookings. Soon after, the linesman raised his flag, prompting the referee to investigate, but play resumed without incident.
The match became stretched, with end-to-end action and possession switching rapidly. Wolves carved out a key opportunity when Wagstaffe’s cross looked destined to be finished, but Graham intercepted with a crucial back pass to goalkeeper Wilson to deny Wolves.
Arsenal capitalized on their momentum and broke the deadlock. Ray Kennedy unleashed a powerful right-footed strike from outside the box, which flew past Parkes to make it 1-0. Wolves responded with renewed energy, as Bailey fired narrowly wide just before halftime. With Wilson’s goal kick, the referee’s whistle signaled the end of the first half.
The second half began with Wolves pressing hard for an equalizer. Their persistence paid off in the 53rd minute when Wagstaffe’s crisp strike from the edge of the box beat Wilson in goal, leveling the score at 1-1.
Wolves gained the upper hand and began to dominate, displaying skill and composure. Wagstaffe’s pinpoint Crossfield ball found Hibbitt in space. Hibbitt, shrugging off two defenders, fired a clinical shot into the bottom corner, giving Wolves their first lead of the game at 2-1.
Just minutes later, Wolves extended their advantage. Dougan capitalized on defensive confusion, slotting the ball into the net with Wilson off his line, making it 3-1 by the 65th minute.
Four minutes later, Wolves were awarded a penalty after Roberts fouled Hibbitt in the box. McCalliog stepped up confidently, sending the spot-kick home with Wilson rooted to the spot. This extended Wolves’ lead to 4-1.
Arsenal attempted to respond with Rice’s fierce shot, but Parkes produced a brilliant save to tip it over the bar. Wolves punished Arsenal further in the 73rd minute. Wagstaffe’s corner found Dougan, who capitalized on a defensive error to prod the ball into the back of the net, scoring his second goal and making it 5-1.
As the match wound down, some Arsenal players struggled with injuries, but Wolves showed no sign of letting up. They continued attacking, searching for more goals. Late on, Parkes ensured Arsenal didn’t pull one back with a crucial save.
The final whistle confirmed a resounding 5-1 victory for Wolves, marking the first time Arsenal had conceded five goals in a league game that season. Wolves’ dominant second-half performance sealed a memorable win in emphatic style.
Wolves 5 (Wagstaffe 53, Hibbitt 63, Dougan 65 73, McCalliog 69p): Parkes, Shaw, Parkin, Bailey, Munro, McAlle, McCalliog, Hibbitt, Richards, Dougan, Wagstaffe.
Sub Daley.
Arsenal 1 (Kennedy 37): Wilson, Rice, Nelson, Storey, Roberts, McLintock, Armstrong, George, Radford, Kennedy, Graham.
Sub McNab.
BIGGEST WIN
Division 1 – The biggest win between the two clubs was on the 31st August 1946 & 7th March 1959 the games finished 6-1 to Wolves.
Premier League – The biggest win between the two clubs was on the 24th April 2019 the game finished 3-1 to Wolves, this was there first win over Arsenal since 29th September 1979 when Wolves won 3-2.
FA Cup – The biggest win between the two clubs was on the 3rd January 1976 which was a 3rd Round Tie the game finished 3-0 to Wolves.
BIGGEST DEFEAT
Division 1 – The biggest defeat between the two clubs was on the 5th November 1932 the game finished 7-1 to Arsenal.
Premier League – The biggest defeat between the two clubs was on the 28th May 2023 the game finished 5-0 to Arsenal.
FA Cup – The biggest defeat between the two clubs was on the 22nd January 1938, 4th January 1964, 28th January 1978 & 24thJanuary 1999 the games finished 2-1 to Arsenal.
HEAD TO HEAD
PLAYING FOR BOTH TEAMS
Vince Bartram
Played for Wolves 1986-1991 made 5 appearances and played for Arsenal 1994-1998 made 11 appearances.
Jackie Henderson
Played for Wolves 1958 made 9 appearances and scored 3 goals and played for Arsenal 1958-1962 made 103 appearances and scored 29 goals.
Bob Wilson
Played for Wolves 1961-1963 unfortunately he didn’t make a first team appearance as he was playing for the reserves and was the first amateur to have a transfer fee and played for Arsenal 1963-1974 made 310 appearances.
Bob McNab
Played for Arsenal 1966-1975 made 278 appearances and scored 4 goals and played for Wolves 1975-1976 made 13 appearances.
Alan Sunderland
Played for Wolves 1971-1977 made 158 appearances and scored 30 goals and played for Arsenal 1977-1984 made 206 appearances and scored 55 goals.
Oleh Luzhnyi
Played for Arsenal 1999-2003 made 75 appearances and played for Wolves 2003-2004 made 6 appearances.
Emmanuel Frimpong
Played for Arsenal 2011-2014 made 6 appearances and played for Wolves in a loan spell 2012 made 5 appearances.
Rohan Ricketts
Played for Arsenal 2000-2002 made no appearances mostly played in reserves side and played for Wolves 2005 in a loan spell and then signed a permanent deal at the end of loan and stayed at Wolves until 2007 made 61 appearances and scored 1 goal.
Benik Afobe
Played for Arsenal 2010-2015 made no first team appearances mostly played in the reserves side and played for Wolves in two spells 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 made 62 appearances and scored 28 goals.
Jon Purdie
Started his youth career at Arsenal 1983-1985 and played for Wolves 1985-1988 made 89 appearances and scored 12 goals.
Jermaine Pennant
Played for Arsenal 1999-2005 made 12 appearances and scored 3 goals and played for Wolves in a loan spell 2012-2013 made 15 appearances.
Eddie Clamp
Played for Wolves 1953-1961 made 214 appearances and scored 23 goals and played for Arsenal 1961-1962 made 22 appearances and scored 1 goal.
Ray Hankin
Played for Arsenal 1981-1982 unfortunately he didn’t make a first team game and played for Wolves 1985 made 10 appearances and scored 1 goal.
Graham Stack
Played for Arsenal 2000-2006 made 10 appearances and played for Wolves in a loan spell 2007-2008 made 2 appearances.
Bobby Gould
Played for Arsenal 1968-1970 made 65 appearances and scored 16 goals and played for Wolves in two spells 1970-1971 and 1975-1977 made 74 appearances and scored 31 goals.
Jay Bothroyd
Was a product of the Arsenal academy and left in 2000 and played for Wolves 2006-2008 made 55 appearances and scored 12 goals.
Jeremie Aliadiere
Played for Arsenal 2001-2007 made 29 appearances scored 1 goal and played for Wolves in a loan spell 2006 made 14 appearances scored 2 goals.
Daniel Bentley
Played for the Arsenal youth team in 2008 and currently plays for Wolves made 2 appearances.
Emiliano Martinez
Played for Arsenal 2012-2020 made 15 appearances and played for Wolves in a loan spell 2016 made 13 appearances.
Other Players who played for both clubs.
Joe Cooper, Arthur Worrall, Donald Cock, Tommy Rudkin, Charles Booth, Adam Haywood, Bryn Jones, David Black, Charles Booth, Billy Heath, Lawrie Madden, Jamie O’Hara, Arthur Worrall.
Played, Coached and Managed Both Teams
John Barnwell
Played for Arsenal 1957-1964 made 151 appearances and scored 24 goals and managed Wolves 1978-1982.
Billy Wright
Played for Wolves 1939-1959 made 490 appearances and scored 13 goals and managed Arsenal 1962-1966.
George Jobey
Played for Woolwich Arsenal 1913-1914 and managed Wolves 1922-1924.
Tommy Docherty
Played for Arsenal 1958-1961 made 83 appearances and scored 1 goal and managed Wolves 1984-1985.
Gary Goodchild
Played for Arsenal 1974-1976 never made a first team appearance for the club and is currently a scout for Wolves since 2017.
ARTICLE BY KARL WHITEHOUSE
I am a Wolves fan been for over 30 years where
I have supported them both home and away games in the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s and now like looking into wolves games the stats behind the games they play in the premier league and also look other stats if asked by someone else in the podcast. I have also done the 92 football league grounds and shortly be doing a ebook about peoples favourite match they went to along with a match report and if possible stats from game.
1 Comment
by Balkaneer
I was at the 1953 Highbury match which ended 1 – 1 and featured Bully Wright and all the wolves stars of the time. My RI teacher gave me the ticket and as I was about to go in the West stand turnstile someone offered me a pound for my ticket which I turned down after a real worrying moment.