ARSENAL raced to a 2-0 triumph over Wolves at the Emirates in their Premier League season opener.
After Kai Havertz opened the score inside 25 minutes, Bukayo Saka’s superb 74th minute shot helped the Gunners under control.
Following a Saka assist, Havertz landed Arsenal’s first Prem goal of the season with a deft close range header.
Before ending himself on the wrong side of a second-half tussle with Yerson Mosquera.
Though Saka brought the Emirates to life with a great curling finish from 15 yards, wolves were enjoying a strong stretch of pressure.
Isabelle Barker of SunSport graded the Gunners’ performance as follows.
David Raya – 8
Produced a jaw-dropping save in the opening-half on an awkward Jorgen Strand Larsen header.
Saved Saliba’s skins late on when he nearly produced a monumental cock-up by passing the ball straight to Cunha.
6Ben White got a new hair do ahead of the new Prem seasonCredit: Getty
Ben White – 7
White wanted a goal so bad, had two shots in the opening half and was linking the play well.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 6
Put the Gunners under pressure at times to highlight why the club signed Riccardo Calafiori in the summer.
The Ukrainian left-back also looked weak defensively.
With the return of Jurrien Timber, Zinchenko could see himself out of the starting XI.
6Zinchenko failed to impress during Arsenal’s winCredit: Getty
Gabriel – 7
Was mostly rock solid at the back and was more reliable than Saliba but still made a few questionable tackles.
William Saliba – 6
Was the culprit of a number of poor passes.
Had a disastrous spell which gifted Wolves a chance, forcing Raya into that blinding save in the first-half.
He then passed the ball straight to Matheus Cunha who so very nearly equalised in the second-half.
Martin Odegaard – 7
6Martin Odegaard led Arsenal to their first win of the new seasonCredit: Getty
Thomas Partey – 7
Solid display, buzzed about all over the pitch and was neat and tidy with his distribution.
Nearly made it 2-0 in the second-half with a rasping, low shot.
Declan Rice – 6
Had little influence throughout the game and came off injured on 84-minutes.
Bukayo Saka – 9
The opener was all about the cross from Saka.
It was an inch-perfect, in-swinging cross into the box, the keeper couldn’t come for it, the defenders didn’t want to knock it into their own net, and Havertz took full advantage.
He wrapped up a perfect performance by firing a rocket into the top corner to make it 2-0.
Kai Havertz – 8
His opener had been brewing for a while when he produced a crisp finish on 25 minutes. He has now scored 10 goals in his last 15 Premier League games. Scuppered a golden chance early in the second-half though.
6Havertz was hit in the face by Yerson Mosquera leaving Arsenal fans fumingCredit: Getty
Gabriel Martinelli – 7
Solid performance but was wasteful and selfish when he could have laid the ball back to Declan Rice when he was wide open.