Arsenal squandered a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 with bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, giving Manchester City fresh momentum in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal led 2-0 through early goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie, but Wolves staged a dramatic comeback after the break. Hugo Bueno reduced the deficit in the 61st minute before teenage debutant Tom Edozie struck in stoppage time to snatch a point at Molineux.
The draw leaves Arsenal just five points ahead of second-placed City, having played a game more, with the top two still to meet later in the season.
“We dropped our standards and got punished,” Saka said after the match.
Manager Mikel Arteta admitted his side fell below expectations in the second half. “Incredibly disappointed that we gave two points away,” he said, urging his players to improve performances amid growing pressure.
Arsenal, runner-up in the last three seasons, has now won only two of its previous seven league matches, tightening an increasingly unpredictable title race.