Arsenal secured an emphatic 4-1 victory against Wolves to keep the pressure up at the top of the Barclays Premier League table. They got a helping hand in the first half from the home side, with both Ronald Zubar and Jody Craddock scoring own goals.Arsenal kept their foot on the pedal, Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin extending their lead before Craddock got a consolation goal at the correct end.

Unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions, Arsene Wenger’s side are a clear and positive threat to Chelsea and Manchester United and are scoring goals for fun

Wolves, however, came close to making the breakthrough in the 10th minute when Nenad Milijas delivered a teasing corner. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake peeled away from his marker but he failed to test goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, his close range header going wide of the post.

It was a good chance for the stirker, who was back in the side with Chris Iwelumo absent.

Arsene Wenger’s side again found themselves on the back foot in the 18th minute and Milijas picked out Christophe Berra with a free-kick. But he got his bearings wrong and the ball was scrambled away.

Arsenal went ahead in the 28th minute and there was a stroke of luck about their effort.

Fabregas swung in a corner from the left and the ball took a deflection off Zubar, under pressure from Eduardo, for an own goal.

The home side tried to regroup but were undone again seven minutes later and by another own goal.

Eduardo was allowed plenty of space and raced forward only to see his chip deflected off Craddock.

The momentum had swung Arsenal’s way and they were now firmly in the driving seat with the advantage of a two-goal cushion.

They extended their lead in stoppage time when Fabregas scored in front of the posts after a simple ball from Robin van Persie.

Arsenal went on the attack at the start of the second half and Andrei Arshavin tried to pick out van Persie in the 48th minute only for Hennessey to make the interception.

Five minutes later Thomas Vermaelen hosited the ball forward towards Eduardo but he failed to get a decent touch and the opportunity was lost.

Arsenal had taken the sting out of the game after their three-goal spell in the first half.

Wolves were finding it hard to string their passes together and there was an air of resignation among the home fans.

Fabregas then tried to release van Persie but Craddock was alert to the danger in the 63rd minute and made the clearance.

Arshavin came close to extending Arsenal’s lead in the 63rd minute when he cut inside, only for Hennessy to turn away his effort.

Arshavin got his reward a minute later, latching on to Hennessey’s clearance from a corner by Fabregas, thumping the ball beyond the goalkeeper.

It was becoming a rout as Arsenal were beginning to find gaps as Wolves tired.

Fabregas should have added a fifth goal in the 76th minute but sent his effort over the top from close range after van Persie had squared the ball into his path.

Substitute Tomas Rosicky was also wasteful in front of the posts before Wolves got a consolation goal on the stroke of full time.

Craddock scored at the right end this time when he powered home a header from substitute Matt Jarvis’s corner.

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