Tom Edozie scored a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser on senior debut as Wolves recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Premier League leaders Arsenal at Molineux,
denying Mikel Arteta’s team a seven-point cushion over Manchester City and delivering another setback to Arsenal’s recent form when protecting leads.
The comeback also produced a notable statistic. Wolves became the first side in Premier League history to start a match bottom of the table, fall two goals behind against the team beginning the day top, yet still avoid defeat, underlining how Arsenal again failed to close out a game they largely controlled.
The draw leaves Arsenal five points ahead of Manchester City, rather than seven, after 26 minutes of control appeared enough. Pep Guardiola’s team can trim that advantage to two points when hosting Newcastle United on Saturday, adding further pressure in the title race as Arsenal reflect on another missed chance.
Arsenal’s struggles when leading are becoming a pattern in 2026. The team has dropped seven points from winning positions in this Premier League campaign. Only Crystal Palace and West Ham, with eight points each thrown away from ahead, have let more slip, while Arsenal have failed to win three of their last five league games when in front.
The visitors struck early. Bukayo Saka, operating in a central number 10 role and captaining Arsenal after reports of a new long-term contract agreement, met Declan Rice’s inswinging cross with a firm header in the fifth minute, putting Arsenal ahead and seemingly setting up a routine evening for the league leaders.
Arsenal then controlled possession but created few clear chances before half-time, yet extended the lead on 56 minutes. Piero Hincapie collected Gabriel Magalhaes’ pass, stayed upright under pressure and powered a rising shot into the roof of Jose Sa’s net. An offside flag first ruled the goal out, but VAR showed Hugo Bueno had played Hincapie onside.
Wolves responded quickly, lifting the home crowd. Just five minutes after Hincapie’s strike, Hugo Bueno made amends, bending a precise shot into the top-left corner. That goal cut the deficit to 2-1 and injected belief into Rob Edwards’ team, while anxiety grew among the away supporters as Arsenal again faced questions about game management.
Wolves vs Arsenal Premier League late equaliser and Edozie impact
The equaliser arrived deep into stoppage time after sustained Wolves pressure. David Raya failed to deal convincingly with a high ball, punching weakly. Tom Edozie’s effort then deflected off Riccardo Calafiori, who had replaced Leandro Trossard only 43 seconds earlier, wrong-footing Raya and securing a point that felt much more for the hosts.
Arsenal still finished ahead on expected goals, with an xG tally of 1.86 compared to Wolves’ 0.29, reflecting how few clear chances Wolves created from open play. Yet that statistical edge did not translate to a win, and again highlighted how Arsenal’s defensive control late in games is proving an issue in the title race.
| Event | Team | Player | Minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening goal | Arsenal | Bukayo Saka | 5 |
| Second goal | Arsenal | Piero Hincapie | 56 |
| Wolves first goal | Wolves | Hugo Bueno | 61 |
| Equaliser | Wolves | Tom Edozie | 94 |
Wolves vs Arsenal Premier League historic comeback record
This result marked a rare fightback for Wolves at Molineux. It was the first time Wolves had avoided defeat at home in a Premier League match when trailing by two goals since December 2019, when they overturned Manchester City 3-2. City finished second in that season, a position Arsenal will want to avoid repeating this time.
1 - Wolves are the first team in Premier League history to start the day bottom of the table and avoid defeat to the side starting the day top despite trailing by 2+ goals. Hunted. pic.twitter.com/bwiYoKD0DHOptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 18, 2026
Wolves vs Arsenal Premier League debut scorers and season trends
Data from this season highlights another theme for Arsenal. Four different players have netted their first-ever Premier League goals against Arsenal in this campaign, with three of those coming for Wolves. Tolu Arokodare struck in December, while Hugo Bueno and Tom Edozie joined that list in this draw at Molineux.
That earlier meeting between the clubs ended differently for Rob Edwards’ side. At the Emirates Stadium, Wolves lost 2-1 despite Arokodare’s goal, as own goals from Sam Johnstone and Yerson Mosquera turned the match in Arsenal’s favour. This time, Wolves converted their limited openings into a comeback that checked Arsenal’s momentum.
"Data Debrief: Do you remember the first time?" was an apt question for this contest, as Wolves again provided first-time Premier League scorers against Arsenal. For Arteta’s team, strong underlying numbers and early control were not enough, and the dropped points allowed Manchester City fresh encouragement in the race for the title.
