Gabriel Magalhaes ended Arsenal's five-game winless run but they were forced to cling on for a 1-0 Premier League victory over Wolves after Gabriel Martinelli saw red.
A disappointing start to 2022 saw Arsenal eliminated from the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest and miss out on a place in the EFL Cup final at the hands of Liverpool, but they got back to winning ways on Thursday.
Gabriel punished Wolves' inability to turn their superiority into chances with an opportunistic finish as claims for a foul on goalkeeper Jose Sa were ignored by referee Michael Oliver.
Martinelli receiving two yellow cards in the space of five seconds gave Wolves hope late in the second half, but they were unable to avoid slipping five points behind Arsenal in a blow to their top-four chances.
Openings were few and far between in the first half but Gabriel took his chance in the 25th minute to put the Gunners in front against the run of play.
Alexandre Lacazette just about beat Jose Sa to Ben White's knockdown and knocked the ball on to Gabriel, who was left with a simple finish from inside the six-yard box.
Wolves were handed a boost when Martinelli reacted to not being awarded a free-kick by fouling Daniel Podence at a throw-in and sending Chiquinho to ground after following the ball, earning two quick-fire bookings.
Bruno Lage's side saw an own goal by Granit Xhaka from the resulting free-kick ruled out for offside against Raul Jimenez, while Lacazette missed a chance to put the result beyond doubt in the 72nd minute.
Rob Holding replaced Bukayo Saka as Mikel Arteta looked to tighten things up at the back and he made an important block to keep Chiquinho out, ensuring the three points went back to north London.
Jackson Longridge’s strike saw Hamilton come from behind to earn a 2-1 win at Queen of the South in cinch League One.
Harry Cochrane cancelled out Euan Henderson’s opener for Hamilton before Longridge struck with six minutes of normal time to go for the Accies to remain unbeaten this season.
Kane Hester struck in the 74th minute to help Montrose beat Stirling 1-0, earning their third straight league win to move up to third.
Annan and Alloa were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw after Aidan Smith levelled from Conor Sammon’s opener, while strugglers Edinburgh City earned their first point of the season after drawing 2-2 with Cove Rangers.
Rumarn Burrell put Cove ahead just eight minutes in but Danny Handling soon levelled 10 minutes later before Ryan Shanley put City ahead. They were nearly on their way to sealing three points before Jack Wilkie headed into his own net in the 90th minute.
Stenhousemuir are top of the Scottish League Two table after beating Bonnyrigg Rose 1-0.
Edin Lynch’s second-half header was enough to seal victory and the Warriors sit one point ahead of Peterhead, who beat Dumbarton 1-0.
They needed Hamish Ritchie’s 85th-minute strike to earn three points and Dumbarton finished the game with 10 men after Finlay Gray was shown a second yellow card.
Two first-half goals from Ryan Paterson and Josh Skelly handed Forfar their first league win of the season after beating Stranraer 2-0, while bottom-of-the-table Clyde also claimed their first victory with a 2-1 win against Elgin.
Martin Rennie and Alex King both scored within five minutes of each other for Clyde to go in front before Erik Sula’s own goal pulled one back for the visitors. Elgin missed the chance to equalise when Russell Dingwall missed from the penalty spot.
Rhys Armstrong and Blair Henderson’s goals were cancelled out by Scott Shepherd and Nathan Austin as East Fife earned a point against the Spartans in a 2-2 draw.
Arbroath extend winning run against Partick Thistle
Arbroath made it five straight wins in all competitions as they beat Partick Thistle 3-0 at Firhill.
Jermaine Hylton gave the visitors an early lead in the 12th minute when he drilled a low shot into the corner after being picked out by Michael McKenna.
Hylton then turned provider five minutes before half-time when his cross was dispatched by Thomas O’Brien, whose shot looked to have taken a deflection past Jags keeper Jamie Sneddon.
Craig Slater tested Sneddon early in the second half when his rising shot was tipped over before Hylton, who had seen a shot blocked over the crossbar, wrapped things up with Arbroath’s third goal in the 80th minute.
Partick were denied a late consolation when substitute Kieran Ngwenya’s effort was saved by Derek Gaston.
Arbroath extend winning run against Partick
Arbroath made it five straight wins in all competitions as they beat Patrick 3-0 at Firhill.
Jermaine Hylton gave the visitors an early lead in the 12th minute when he drilled a low shot into the corner after being picked out by Michael McKenna.
Hylton then turned provider five minutes before half-time when his cross was dispatched by Thomas O’Brien, whose shot looked to have taken a deflection past Jags keeper Jamie Sneddon.
Craig Slater tested Sneddon early in the second half when his rising shot was tipped over before Hylton, who had seen a shot blocked over the crossbar, wrapped things up with Arbroath’s third goal in the 80th minute.
Patrick were denied a late consolation when substitute Kieran Ngwenya’s effort was saved by Derek Gaston.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
