Arsenal went four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on Saturday, thanks to early goals from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal made a blistering start in subzero temperatures, and the points appeared secure from the moment skipper Odegaard doubled their lead in the 13th minute.
Saka put Mikel Arteta’s team ahead in the sixth minute after some excellent link-up play sent him clear.
Wolves regrouped and gradually began to make inroads, but Arsenal remained unconcerned until Matheus Cunha struck strongly past home keeper David Raya after 86 minutes, setting up an unexpectedly tense finish.
Arsenal has 33 points from 14 games, trailing champions Manchester City, who play Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, and Liverpool and Aston Villa, who also play on Sunday.
After coming so close to beating Manchester City last season only to fall short, there were doubts that Arsenal might struggle to achieve similar heights again this season.
However, Arteta’s team is displaying the type of consistency essential for a long title race.
Arsenal stormed out of the gates against Wolves, much as they did against Lens in the Champions League in midweek, scoring five goals in the first half.
Saka connected up with Gabriel Jesus before Takehiro Tomiyasu passed the ball through to the young England forward, who hammered his finish past Wolves keeper Jose Sa.
Arsenal’s lead was extended when Oleksandr Zinchenko played a one-two with Jesus, who cut a pass back to Odegaard, who side-footed a perfect finish.
However, a third goal proved elusive, and when Cunha beat Raya late on with a curling left-footed attempt, Wolves were capable of salvaging an improbable point.