Paul Merson makes Arsenal 'panic' admission as Wolves fall short despite late goal

Paul Merson has had his say on Wolves' defeat to league-leaders Arsenal on Saturday. Goals from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard ensured the Gunners will stay top of the table for another weekend, with both goals coming in the first 15 minutes, while Wolves are now in 13th.

Wolves have caused a number of top sides problems so far this season, but Mikel Arteta's men took control early on and were comfortable until the last five minutes, when Matheus Cunha took advantage of a defensive lapse, scoring with a fine finish. Saka scored in the sixth minute. Odegaard finished off a brilliant move sven minutes later to double Arsenal's advantage, and while Wolves put pressure on with a late goal, the Gunners were still saw out the game without Gary O'Neil's men managing another clear-cut opportunity.

Speaking about the second goal on Sky Sports, a gushing Merson said: "Arsenal have been absolutely brilliant, unbelievable - balls goes down the right, Saka crosses to the far post, you think Zinchenko is going to take a touch, but he drills it in, plays a one-two with Jesus, back to Odegaard on the penalty spot, wonderful one-touch football and game over, 2-0."

For the Wolves goal, Merson added at the time: "Zinchenko dithers on the ball, gets robbed and it falls to Cunha and he bends it into the far corner, a great finish and totally out of nothing and game on."

Merson did admit that Arsenal were panicked by Wolves' late goal. Asked if the late panic was because Woves stepped up, the former Gunner added: "In the end, it's panic. I think it was Arsenal missing chances and taking their foot off. They had chances and didn't kill the game off. You have to finish the game off and put teams away. This is the thing with Man City, they blow teams away and can bring players off. You have to be clinical and ruthless, and you have to kill teams off."