Bukayo Saka felt Arsenal dropped well below their standards as they blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Wolves.
The Premier League’s bottom side took deserved points off the Premier League leaders through Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal in stoppage time, following up on Hugo Bueno’s stunner to start the comeback after Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie netted early in each half.
Their second successive draw hands more impetus to Manchester City in the title race, with Pep Guardiola’s men able to reduce the gap to two points on Saturday by beating Newcastle.
Goalscorer Saka told the BBC: “Disappointed. Not much else to say.
“There was a big difference in how we played in the first half and the second half. We dropped our standards and we got punished for it.”
The Gunners have led for the majority of the season as they look to win their first league title since 2004 but have dropped 11 points from their eight games of 2026 as the pressure looks to be getting to Mikel Arteta’s men.
Asked whether nerves are creeping into the side, Saka responded: “Time to focus on ourselves, improve our standards and improve our performances and it is in our control.”
Arteta: ‘We didn’t do the basics’
Manager Arteta said the Arsenal dressing room were “too emotional” to judge the late slip-up now but agreed with Saka that his side were not good enough in the second half.
“Very tough to accept it. In the second half we did not perform in the way we should and the way we require to win a Premier League match.
“It is better not to judge it, we are all too emotional about it. You have to take the hit because we deserve it.
“It is very easy with emotion to say things that can damage the team. Everyone wants to do their best. You have to go through tough periods.
“Today at the last minute, we paid the price. We have to do basic things much better than we have done.”
