Even if it seems inevitable Arsenal will dispute PGMOL’s definition of “serious foul play” in the coming days, appealing Michael Oliver’s puzzling call to punish Myles Lewis-Skelly for a cynical trip with a red card, Mikel Arteta could take great satisfaction from a victory earned after being reduced to 10 men for an hour at Wolves. The defender’s dubious first-half sending-off will dominate the discourse but the substitute Riccardo Calafiori’s priceless winner, after Wolves themselves had a player sent off when João Gomes was given a second yellow card, ensured they stay in the hunt for the title.

The problems are piling up for Wolves, who succumbed to a fourth straight defeat in which their only bona fide striker, Jørgen Strand Larsen, limped down the tunnel. Arteta knows that feeling. The Arsenal manager has not hidden his desire to strengthen his attack but Calafiori took his goal like a seasoned striker. Nélson Semedo’s headed clearance from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross dropped for the Italy defender and he swivelled and sent a first-time shot low into the far corner on the half volley. Arsenal had seen this movie before; Calafiori’s first goal for the club was another left-foot peach at Manchester City in September. Pablo Sarabia appeared punch-drunk on the Wolves bench and the home support reverted to voicing their anger at the Wolves chairman, Jeff Shi. “Back the team or sell the club,” was the demand from the South Bank.