Mikel Arteta demands response after late collapse

February 19, 2026 Oliver Obel

Arsenal’s Premier League lead remains intact, but the mood around it shifted after a late collapse at Molineux cost them two points they appeared certain to claim.

Leading by two goals against bottom-placed Wolves, Mikel Arteta’s side controlled much of the first hour before the game tilted. A stoppage-time equaliser reported by The Guardian as arriving in the 94th minute sealed a 2-2 draw and underlined the fine margins shaping the title race.

The result keeps Arsenal five points ahead of Manchester City, though City have a game in hand and a reputation for closing relentlessly in the season’s final months.

Control Lost After the Break

Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapié put Arsenal in command during a confident first half in which they moved the ball sharply and limited Wolves’ opportunities. At that stage, the contest felt routine.

It did not stay that way.

Wolves emerged with greater urgency after the interval, pressing higher and forcing Arsenal deeper. Hugo Bueno cut the deficit, and the momentum in the stadium noticeably shifted. Deep into added time, substitute Tom Edozie struck a shot that deflected off a post and Riccardo Calafiori before crossing the line.

Arteta did not dispute where responsibility lay.

“Extremely disappointed, obviously, with the result, with the way the game ended, but we have to blame ourselves,” he said.

He added that his side’s second-half display fell short of “the standards that are required in this league to win,” acknowledging that Arsenal failed to match the level they showed before halftime.

The dropped points extend a run of inconsistent league form: two wins in seven matches. That pattern, more than a single draw, may concern Arteta most.

Immediate Test Awaits

There is little time for reflection. Arsenal face Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday, a fixture that often carries emotional and competitive weight beyond the table.

“I think we need to go through the pain and you need to go through that looking in the mirror and understanding what the game requires now and the next action is on Sunday,” Arteta said, framing the setback as a test of resilience rather than a turning point.

With City still within reach and accustomed to late-season surges, protecting leads could prove decisive.

A Breakthrough Moment for Wolves

For Wolves, the draw felt transformative. Edozie, 19, had only recently begun training consistently with the senior squad under manager Rob Edwards. Introduced late on, he scored less than 10 minutes into his Premier League debut.

“We’re still learning about him as well,” Edwards said. “He’s been training with us over this last week or two. We just had a feeling.”

As Edozie prepared to enter the match, Edwards recalled telling him: “This could be your moment, go and take it.” He added: “His family will remember that for a long, long time.”

For Wolves, it was a point earned through persistence. For Arsenal, it was a reminder that control in a title race must last beyond 90 minutes.

Sources: The Guardian