Wolves 1-4 Arsenal

Arsenal moved into second place in the Premier League after dismantling Wolves with another fine attacking display.

The Gunners were a touch fortunate with their opener as Ronald Zubar turned a Cesc Fabregas corner into his own goal.

And Eduardo's chip went in off Jody Craddock's head to make it 2-0 before Robin van Persie's exquisite touch set up Fabregas to score a classy third.

Andrey Arshavin struck with a low shot from the edge of the area before Craddock headed in a late consolation.

The result means Arsenal leapfrog Manchester United, who play leaders Chelsea on Sunday, and it also leaves Wolves in the bottom three.

For Arsenal the signs are growing that they can make a real challenge for the title this season, but Wolves are set to face a battle to stay in the top flight.

Wolves' biggest problem is their lack of a goal threat as the first 15 minutes of this match demonstrated.

Playing a direct brand of football and hustling Arsenal into errors, the hosts looked to gain an advantage as they racked up the set-pieces.

But Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake missed good chances with headers from corners, while Christophe Berra misdirected his header from a free-kick.

The hosts' start might have given boss Mick McCarthy hope that he could mastermind only his second victory over Arsenal - and Wolves' first since 1979.

But 20 minutes into the game, Arsenal served warning they were about to step through the gears as an interchange between Abou Diaby and Arshavin almost opened up Wolves.

Diaby was forced off injured shortly after and was replaced by Alex Song, who had been rested with Aaron Ramsey drafted in.

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" The Premier League crown is coming home "

Yet Arsenal's misfortune soon turned on its head when Fabregas' corner came off Zubar's thigh and went into his own goal.

It served to settle Arsenal, and have the opposite effect on Wolves.

Ramsey headed straight at Wayne Hennessey, and then the Welshman over-hit a pass that would have played in Eduardo as the visitors took control.

Wolves were opened up again as they committed far too many men forward, and at the end of a rapid counter-attack Eduardo's shot clipped Craddock to leave Hennessey stranded as the ball went over his head.

With McCarthy's men still reeling, Arsenal carved out a superb third, when Bacary Sagna's cross was brilliantly laid off by Van Persie for Fabregas to slot home.

Almost inevitably it led to a subdued period after the break as Wolves looked to regroup, while Arsenal stroked the ball around with little urgency.

Then an injection of pace from Arshavin saw him test Hennessey with a stinging shot.

And from the resultant corner, the Russian rifled in after Hennessey had punched the cross away.

Eduardo almost added a fifth goal but was denied by Hennessey who did well to smother the striker's low effort.

More fluid approach play carved out another chance for Arsenal as Van Persie pulled the ball back for Fabregas but the Spaniard blazed over.

Instead it was Wolves who were to score the next goal, as Craddock thumped in a header from a corner.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"We had so many chances and they had been under pressure for 10 to 15 minutes before the opening goal.

"I felt we controlled the game. Overall we could have scored many more. On every counter attack we looked dangerous.

"The most important factor is we play for each other as we do. We have to focus on our performance and continue to develop our style of play.

"We were out of it (the title race) last year after we lost five games in 14.

"Two years ago, though, we were close to winning it, people forget that. We will keep our humility and play our game."

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy:
"Our season won't be judged by games against Arsenal. We have Birmingham coming up and that is the type of game we have to win.

"Hull, West Ham and Portsmouth are the teams in and around us and matches with them will be important.

"We have been ticking along but were well beaten in the end. We were outstanding for 30 minutes and took Arsenal on but mistakes have cost us.

"But I know the crowd appreciate the hard work the team put in and the way they tried to play."

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