A trip to Arsenal was always likely to be a daunting opening weekend assignment for Wolverhampton Wanderers — and so it proved.
A 2-0 defeat, sealed by goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, was not the whole story, with Wolves pressing well in the second period before Saka’s clincher.
Ultimately, however, it was to no avail. These were the main talking points at the Emirates.
How did Larsen perform?
Jorgen Strand Larsen joined Wolves charged with being the man to finally replace Raul Jimenez, but he had a tough afternoon.
The Norway international, who joined on a season-long loan with an option to buy for £23million ($29.3m), cut a frustrated figure as he battled with William Saliba and Gabriel, arguably the Premier League’s most accomplished centre-back pairing.
Wolves manager Gary O’Neil opted to play Strand Larsen as a lone striker here, with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde providing support from a central attacking midfield position. His team-mates targeted the 6ft 4in (193cm) striker with long balls in the opening exchanges, but he struggled to adjust to the aggression of the Arsenal centre-backs.
William Saliba gave Jorgen Strand Larsen a hard afternoon (Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
However, Strand Larsen did have one golden chance in the first half. The 24-year-old did well to connect with a Hwang Hee-chan cross from the right wing and directed his close-range header goalwards, but David Raya pulled off, in the words of Mikel Arteta, “an unbelievable save”.
“I was pleased with Jorgen,” said O’Neil. “He was against probably the best partnership in the league. His movement to lose the centre-back and the contact on his header was excellent. I don’t know how Raya saves it.”
Across Strand Larsen’s 84 minutes, before Chiquinho replaced him, he contested seven duels (three ground, four aerial), winning just two. Dealing with challenging long balls against two of the best and most physically imposing central defenders in the world was never going to be easy, but there were positives to take, particularly regarding his effort and link-up play.
“He had a good impact on the game,” says O’Neil. “He’s tough. He allowed us to go into him a few times — he got hold of it, linked play, and worked his socks off. He’s had the one today that 95 times out of 100 goes in. He’s worked hard and he’ll help us, definitely.”
GO DEEPER
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How much did Wolves miss Neto?
Before Saka’s left-footed effort in the 74th minute killed the game for Wolves, O’Neil’s side came close to finding an equaliser on several occasions in the second half.
Arsenal allowed the game to drift after going ahead through Havertz’s headed effort, failing to control midfield owing to Wolves’ aggressive and coordinated press.
Wolves’ best chance of the second half fell to forward Matheus Cunha after Saliba played a stray pass into the path of the Brazilian. With Raya out of position and Strand Larsen, Rodrigo Gomes and Joao Gomes in support, Cunha elected to shoot with his left foot, but his effort was tame.
While Wolves’ well-orchestrated press put Arsenal under pressure on several occasions, they lacked quality and precision in the final third. Having lost Pedro Neto to Chelsea, previously Wolves’ best attacker when fit and available, they look short in proven and established Premier League forwards, but Cunha’s inclusion in the second half brought a flair and decisiveness they missed while he was on the bench.
While he could not make his chance count, it was a valuable 30 minutes that will bring him closer to fitness before Wolves host Chelsea next Sunday.
What do they still need in the market?
With around £100million flowing into the club after the departures of Neto and Maximilian Kilman, O’Neil is keen to reinforce the squad with top-level quality.
“That £100million for two players is a good return for the club, but now we end up in a place where we have an opportunity to help the group,” said O’Neil. “I love that group and how they went about today — some craziness, loads of heart and quality.
“But it’s a ruthless league, and we have an opportunity over the next few weeks with the targets that Matt Hobbs (sporting director), the recruitment team, and myself, to a lesser extent, identify that the money we’ve taken in allows us to be clever and get some stuff done.
“We talk about signing a wide player, but Rodrigo (Gomes) and Chiquinho gave me everything today. But it is a tough league, and the more help you can get them, the better it will be.”
Gary O’Neil wants to bolster his squad (Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Gomes did have a promising debut, but he is inexperienced in the Premier League. Daniel Podence and Goncalo Guedes, who both started the game on the bench, may leave before the end of the window. If Wolves are to better last season’s 14th-placed finish, further quality in wide positions appears essential.
O’Neil praised Yerson Mosquera’s return to the side after spending spells away in MLS and La Liga, but Wolves will be keen to look to strengthen central defence after Kilman joined West Ham United in July.
Craig Dawson was only available for six minutes from the bench and could displace Mosquera at the heart of Wolves’ defence once he returns to full fitness. Still, another player to bolster the ranks with experience and quality would strengthen the likelihood of Wolves achieving their aspirations.
(Top photo: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
