Arsenal Player Ratings: Jesus, Raya Shine Despite Fatigue

Arsenal’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Wolves at Molineux showcased the resilience and depth of Mikel Arteta’s squad, as the Gunners battled through evident fatigue to claim all three points. While several players appeared jaded after a grueling run of fixtures, the performances of goalkeeper David Raya and striker Gabriel Jesus proved instrumental in securing the win.

Raya, Arsenal’s summer signing from Brentford, demonstrated his shot-stopping prowess with a string of crucial saves. His first-half denial of Matheus Cunha’s goal-bound effort was nothing short of sensational, while his reactionary stop from Lemina’s strike in the second half preserved Arsenal’s lead when the game hung in the balance.

At the other end of the pitch, Gabriel Jesus continued to lead by example, his relentless work rate and intelligent movement causing constant problems for the Wolves defence. The Brazilian’s link-up play was a joy to behold, and he played a pivotal role in both of Arsenal’s goals, scored by Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard.

While Arteta will be pleased with the contributions of Raya and Jesus, he may have concerns over the evident fatigue afflicting several other key players. Declan Rice, typically a dynamo in midfield, appeared to be running on empty at times, though he summoned a final burst of energy to help see out the win.

Captain Martin Odegaard and talisman Bukayo Saka also looked leggy, with their usual creative sparkle dulled by the relentless fixture schedule. Kai Havertz, deployed in an unfamiliar midfield role, struggled to assert himself, though he did go close to scoring on a couple of occasions.

Arteta will likely rotate his squad for Arsenal’s midweek cup clash, with fringe players such as Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli potentially given opportunities to stake their claims for regular starting berths.

The Gunners’ ability to grind out a result despite being below their best will undoubtedly please Arteta, as will the performances of Raya and Jesus. However, with the Premier League title race intensifying, the Spaniard will be acutely aware of the need to carefully manage his resources over the coming weeks.

Arsenal’s strength in depth has been a key factor in their success this season, and Arteta will hope that the likes of Partey, Martinelli and others can provide timely boosts as the campaign enters its critical final stages. With the chasing pack snapping at their heels, the Gunners cannot afford any slips in their pursuit of long-awaited silverware.