Arsenal 2-0 Wolves: Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz shine as Gunners get latest title charge underway with comfortable victory

Whether Arsenal need a new striker or if they can win the Premier League title this time around are debates with no winners.

Arguments can be made on both sides. Rightly so, they are not transparent matters.

When it comes to Bukayo Saka, the winger’s worth to his boyhood club is universally undisputed — and it is Saka who will play a significant part as to where the title lands come May.

His sublime cross, whipped with verve, assisted Kai Havertz’s headed opener. And, as the nerves started to creep around the Emirates, Saka struck one himself after a trademark cut into the area.

Arsenal faded in patches and on another day, a Wolves goal would not have been unfathomable. They had their chances and should have scored. Particularly when William Saliba uncharacteristically gave the ball away on 68 minutes to Matheus Cunha, the forward failing to properly test David Raya.

But three points is what counts at the end, the Gunners opening their account on the right foot. The concerns around Thomas Partey giving the ball away far too many times in dangerous areas stand, though. There were at least three occasions where he did so. His team-mates will be thankful none of these moments were costly.

It highlighted, in some ways, why Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino could well be the revelation Arteta believes he could be — if the Gunners are able to sign him.

Going back to last season, Arteta received criticism for arguably playing Saka too much, even when it appeared the winger was carrying an injury.

On the display of today, you empathise why. A sole player can be the difference between winning and losing. He was here.

The space afforded to Saka made the opening goal on 25 minutes, from open play, a free-kick routine in effect. The winger was left all alone on the left wing, Mario Lemina in two minds whether to press or stay in the area.

Saka steadied himself, whipping a cross into the box. Havertz stole in front of goalkeeper Jose Sa, who had gone out to punch the ball away, and headed into the net.

His second-half goal, on 74 minutes, was classic Saka. He jinked in on his left foot, before catching Sa out by flashing the ball past him at the near post. Arteta took him off six minutes later. A wise move.

Wolves’ Mosquera was not so wise in the most contentious moment of the second period. Havertz tangled with the defender to the ground. The Wolves man then decided to pretty much strangle him on the floor, before releasing his hand as referee Jarred Gillett got closer.

It smacked of petulance and could have resulted in a red card.

Overall for Arsenal, it was fitting that Saka’s 59th goal was the same tally as their late striker Kevin Campbell who died in June. The supporters stood and proudly clapped in his name prior to kick-off, the first league match since his passing.

On the pitch, it was their two most-scrutinised signings of last season — Havertz and David Raya — who stood up in the first half to lay the platform for three points.

Havertz got the opener, but it was Raya’s intervention that was just as important.

It raised the second-loudest cheer of the first half. A cross from the right wing arrived, and Wolves’ new loanee Jorgen Strand Larsen powerfully headed goalwards.

Raya was diving to the right, before sticking out a left hand to parry the ball in the opposite direction. It was cat-like — and needed.

Martin Odegaard created Arsenal’s first chance on nine minutes, dispossessing an opponent to play Havertz through.

He was marshalled to the far post by Lemina, his shot dribbling to Sa. A spate of Ben White shots from outside the area followed, then Gabriel Martinelli had a strike deflected over the goal just before the half-time whistle.

After the break Partey gave the ball away near his own area, which Wolves failed to capitalise on, but he was dispossessed in a similar position later on.

Rayan Ait-Nouri struck from range, the ball always tailing away from the right post, though it woke up those in attendance.

Wolves were not fully out of it just yet, particular when at a one-goal deficit.

Havertz should have sealed the game on 50 minutes, receiving the ball in the box with much time to spare — only to lamely curl it wide. The kind of attempt which will clipped.

Yet Saka’s late goal closed out the game. A winning start, it’s all that matters.