Premier League: Arsenal return to top with Wolves win - reaction

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I spy with my little eye, something beginning with 'T'.

Top of the table.

Arsenal are looking down on the rest once again. But for how long?

Liverpool can join them on 74 points if they beat Fulham tomorrow but Arsenal have the chance to extend the lead again when they face Chelsea on Tuesday.

Liverpool play Everton on Wednesday before Manchester City - fresh from their FA Cup semi-final win today - return to league action on Thursday at Brighton.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was a very good response, so proud of them. We reacted in the right way. We deserved to win the game and got another clean sheet again. Obviously disappointed to lose against Bayern, small margins but we have five games to go and we are top again.

"Even at 2-0 you are never sure and they [Wolves] are a good side, they made some changes and caused us some problems.

On Leandro Trossard's goal: "They all count and he made an impact again for the team and that's what we need."

On keeping another clean sheet: "We've been really consistent defensively and that's the platform needed to win games in this league. All we can do is win our games and when you see the form that we are in, in the calendar year, it is unbelievable and you are still not top but it's the quality of this league."

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil, speaking to BBC Match of the Day, on the togetherness in the squad: "We need to keep it that way but we need quality players back to so we can have a lift. A few aren't that far away from returning."

On trying to finish strongly:"We are trying. If you'd told me at the start of the season that we'd be on 43 points with six games to go and no relegation concerns, I'd have taken it.

"We are short in this squad, we don't have many more injuries than other teams but we only start with 19 players in the squad. The injuries don't sound much but when it's a small group then it makes a difference."

On 15-year-old Wesley Okoduwa being named on the bench:"I was disappointed he didn't get on but we were pushing hard. He's trained really well though so I'm sure we'll see him soon."

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It's not often you are pleased and proud after a defeat but in our current situation, to produce energy and fight like that was an incredible effort.

"The negative would be the second goal. The lads didn't deserve to lose 2-0.

"We had a bench full of kids and even the ones we consider as senior players, Toti, Joao [Gomes] and Boubacar [Traore], haven't got a lot of experience, Tommy Doyle has probably only made 10 Premier League appearances.

"It's an incredibly young team and squad that gave one of the best teams in the country and run for their money."

While it has been small, it has been mighty.

Today was an important day at the top and the bottom of the Premier League.

Here's a summary of what happened...

• Luton 1-5 Brentford
• Sheff Utd 1-4 Burnley
• Wolves 0-2 Arsenal

Brentford are all but safe - and put Luton further into the mire. Burnley gave themselves more than a fighting chance, while Sheffield United look to be buried. And Arsenal are top of the league.

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil, speaking to Sky Sports, about how they are coping with a long injury list: "Although we were missing key players we had some energy across the pitch and we tried to use that to our advantage.

"We had a couple of good moments but if you look at the stats you see how good they defend.

"Gabriel and Saliba are really good and very physical. We got in some good crossing areas and almost went 1-0 ahead when we hit the post but they are a difficult team to play when you have no attackers. We tried to use our pressing.

"That was a progression tonight. It was a good performance from Hugo [Bueno] and a great debut for Tawanda [Chirewa]. Tommy Doyle was great too.

"I'm sure all the Wolves fans would love to have all our players available at the moment, playing free-flowing attacking football but that's just not what we have now."

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil, speaking to Sky Sports, on what he feels they need to get better at: "There's loads of things we need to improve. The break and pre-season will help with those.

"The aim when I was driving up to Wolverhampton in August was to stay in the league. We knew it would be a tough ask but we put some points on the board early on in the season to help.

"I'm disappointed we couldn't put points on the board because it would have been massive against Arsenal but I'm proud of the performances.

"We were quite aggressive, we pressed as high as we could too. We had some success and disrupted their rhythm. Unfortunately we didn't have enough success to get a result but I'm sure Arsenal knew they were in a game."

It was a fun cameo up front from Mario Lemina.

Usually a defensive midfielder, he was game for playing up top and constantly hounded the Arsenal defence.

Lemina was also responsible for Wolves' only shot on target in the second half.

It was a fun cameo up front from Mario Lemina.

Usually a defensive midfielder, he was game for playing up top and constantly hounded the Arsenal defence.

Lemina was also responsible for Wolves' only shot on target in the second half.

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil, speaking to Sky Sports: "An incredible performance, one of my favourites considering how tough I thought it would be.

"The lads showed commitment and work rate to push Arsenal. I'm very proud. I'm, disappointed with the second goal, it was soft.

"I can't believe how well the lads did with how short we are.

"Hwang playing just 45 minutes and Mario [Lemina] playing as a number nine, he did well as a nine actually. It was an enjoyable evening, which you don't often get when you lose."

Although there is mitigation for Wolves, the fact is they are now without a win in five games.

It’s their longest run in a season since November 2022 when they drew one and lost four.

Wolves have also lost four of their past six Premier League games at Molineux.

As suspected, Wolves boss Gary O'Neil is upbeat about his makeshift side's performance against one of the title challengers.

"I'm happy because we just didn't sit there in a low block," he says.

O'Neil repeats a few times that he is "proud" of his team, who are without several key players because of injury.

Full quotes to come...

More from Martin Odegaard on why it was so hard to break down Wolves: "Wolves are a good team, well organised. A physical team who defend well and they made it hard for us but we just had to keep on playing and we knew that we were going to get the chances and the goals in the end."

On getting the second goal: "It's always a bit tricky when you're 1-0 up. We wanted to get the second one earlier but again it's a good team and we have to give them credit as well but I don't think it was our best performance. Today was all about the three points and we got them. Three points was the key, that was the main thing."

On his goal: "I've been looking for the goal for a while now so it was good to get it again. We have to believe and go for it and then we will see."

Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard speaking to Sky Sports: "Massive win for us, it was a tough week for us. I think a few tough results and hard emotionally but we had to keep going. Today was all about bouncing back and getting the win and we did that so I'm happy.

"It was tough, a big disappointment, obviously we wanted to go further in the Champions League, the game before [against Aston Villa].

"It is hard but the good thing in football is that you always get another chance and still a long way to go and still tight in the race so today was all about getting back to business and we did."

It's a half century (of sorts) for Martin Odegaard.

The Arsenal skipper has been involved in 50 Premier League goals, making him just the second player to reach that milestone under Mikel Arteta.

Let's hear from the man himself

Arsenal goalscorer Leandro Trossard, speaking to BBC Sport, on bouncing back from back-to-back defeats by Aston Villa and Bayern Munich: "We wanted a response for ourselves.

"We had such a great win before last week and it has been a tough two games.

"The response was brilliant today. All we can do is win our own games and focus on ourselves."

Arsenal goalscorer Leandro Trossard, speaking to BBC Sport, on his goal: "I just had to handle it so quick so I went with the toe.

"I tried to get it on target and it went in super well. I'm pleased it went in., We really needed it."

A lot of chat about Leandro Trossard's opening goal. Was it a toe wang? Was it lucky? The man himself has 'fessed up...

Arsenal goalscorer Leandro Trossard, speaking to BBC Sport, on his side's performance: "I think it was pretty impressive, we played really well and had control most of the time. They are a good side of course and they tried to hurt us on the counter but we managed it well. We could have scored more but we're happy with the clean sheet."