ARSENAL CLIMBED BACK into the race to qualify for the Champions League as Bukayo Saka’s first Premier League goal inspired a crucial 2-0 win against Wolves.
Mikel Arteta’s side made it three successive league victories thanks to Saka’s first half strike and a late Alexandre Lacazette goal at Molineux.
Arsenal are now six points behind fourth placed Manchester United with five games left.
The Gunners remain a long shot to reach next season’s Champions League, but if second placed Manchester City’s continental ban is upheld, a fifth place finish would secure a place in Europe’s elite club competition.
Just days after Saka signed a new long-term contract with the club, the 18-year-old underlined the potential of Arsenal’s emerging crop of academy graduates.
After the panic caused by consecutive defeats following the coronavirus hiatus, Arteta has steadied the ship impressively.
Wolves’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were hit by their first defeat in four games since the restart and they now sit three points behind Manchester United.
Once again there was no place in the Arsenal squad for out of favour midfielder Mesut Ozil or Matteo Guendouzi, while Nicolas Pepe was absent after his wife went into labour.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had Arsenal’s first sight of goal when he stabbed straight at Wolves keeper Rui Patricio from a Dani Ceballos corner.
Adama Traore carried the main threat for Wolves and the winger teased Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac before crossing just too high for Leander Dendoncker.
David Luiz responded to another menacing raid from Traore by cynically chopping him down to earn a booking.
Arsenal’s youngsters were growing into the game and Eddie Nketiah almost caught Rui Patricio off guard with a long-range shot that the keeper had to turn onto the post with his foot.
The visitors took the lead two minutes before half-time when Willy Boly misjudged the bounce and Aubameyang touched it on to Kieran Tierney.
Tierney’s deflected cross reached Saka and he hooked a fine finish past Rui Patricio from 12 yards.
Saka’s fourth goal of the season in all competitions was the first Wolves had conceded in 448 minutes stretching back to their win at Tottenham on March 1.
Wolves striker Raul Jimenez appealed in vain for a penalty when Cedric Soares made contact with him as they challenge for Traore’s cross.
The introduction of substitute Diogo Jota lifted Wolves and the midfielder had a goalbound shot blocked by Luiz.
Traore should have done better than chip tamely wide from Jota’s defence-splitting pass, while Pedro Neto’s effort was too close to Emiliano Martinez.
Lacazette came off the bench to wrap up the points three minutes after his introduction.
The French forward took Joe Willock’s pass and drove a clinical strike past Rui Patricio in the 86th minute.
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This is a poorly managed Cork team with a ref that has given them nothing and they find themselves level against supposedly the fourth best team in the country, imagine what they might do with good management support and fair break from the refree.
@John Carroll: if they’re bringing the supposedly fourth best team in Ireland to extra time the management can’t be that bad? Or are you saying both Mayo and Cork are just shit teams?
@Kevin Gallagher: well two poor teams but the ref was shocking
@Tim Brennan: was it? What major incidents did he get wrong?
@Kevin Gallagher: take a look at killian o connors pull back on cadogan and he knew he would have to black carded him and considered his contribution to the scoreboard it would have limited Mayo all in all Kerry will hammer the winner . Football refs are completely inconsistent and that’s the problem. What he gave as frees for mayo he ignored for Cork. Cork got one free inside the 35 meter line
@Tim Brennan: I don’t disagree that refs are inconsistent, but that wasn’t why Cork lost the game. They had plenty of goal chances to
finish Mayo off in normal time. Also, you could argue back and forth all evening on what the ref got right or wrong for Mayo and Cork. He missed Keegan being pulled back before his trip for a black card (and rightly should’ve been black carded), etc etc.
Also, you can’t seriously argue that Mayo are a shit team?
@Kevin Gallagher: clearly Mayo are not a shite team but I don’t believe this team is capable of winning an all Ireland. They have been robbed of their chance to win and refs in gaa favour the top teams as their ultimate prize is the ref an all ireland- and you know full well that poor refs have cost Mayo dearly. Cork have no excuses and a management that put Alan o Connor on the field tells everything about their vision
For cork football – he gave away 2 needless frees and could not run
@Kevin Gallagher:What i am saying is Cork should be well capable of beating Mayo who are supposedly the fourth best team around and with better management they could do it.For starters Alan o connor has been a huge servant to Cork football but only a group of idiots would have him on a senior inter county panel at this stage of his career.I could go on and on but why bother ….
Referee keeping Mayo players on the pitch here…….
@IrishOwl: I don’t know how Keegan managed to stay on there.
@Dave Murray: cork footballers shafted by a northern ref again
Blew up early
@Timmy O Sullivan: As a neutral I thought the officials were very harsh on Cork the whole game.
@John Kinsella: I second that. Seemed to be a lot harder for cork to get frees
Should be easy for Mayo. A 5 point victory I predict.
Jesus, I’m a mayo supporter and I don’t know if I’m that confident! I think if we take cork for granted we could get punished!
@Dec: Southern opposition often pose problems for Mayo but Mayo should have enough to beat the Cork buys
@Enda McCallion: not that easy so far
Why is it not on TV?
@Hello there friend: It was on Sky
Hope Cork can finish it in extra time. Great stuff so far being the under dogs. Go on the rebels.
Great effort from cork but that ref was atrocious.
Free streams ?
Cork should have won in 70 minutes, missed some gilt-edged chances. Fancy Mayo to finish stronger in the extra time. Great game for the neutral.
What a match. I’d say both sets of players are wrecked.
I don’t disagree but Mayo could say the same thing after leading by 7. To be fair, corks first goal was savage, I’m relieved more than happy after that win
One thing i will say, Mayo are brilliant supporters. Huge numbers follow the team around. That was a very poor turnout for the Cork footballers, those lads deserve better.
Ref won it for mayo
Don’t disagree but I’ve seen it go the other way for us. Might not be as lucky the next game. Need to up our game in a massive way. Will make it no more than the semi’s this year though(if we up our game!!)
Cork doing ok so far up to HT, and are unlucky to be three behind .I suppose it would have been crazy to expect anything from the refree as some of his calls have been poor and mainly against Cork.If they are to stay in this game they will have to push up and are very likely to be caught at the back then.
What tv channel is it on ?
A hope and a prayer for Cork.
Mayo are gone
@Colm Buckley: back in front
@Colm Buckley:
Gone through to the next round it seems
Well done to both teams.
Big crowd there ….around 45 thousand I’d say. A day that will resonate through the ages
@John Ryan: What?
Can’t see anything other than a Mayo win
The myth of David Clarke continues. His kickouts continue to be a liability. Best keeper in the land my arse.
Mayo forwards’ shooting has been excellent. Gotta love Andy Moran – absolute legend. Not sure how Cork are still in this, offering up far too many chances.
@Camroc: Not sure what your watching kid but both teams at the very least deserved a second day out.
@John Carroll: Did you reply to the wrong comment?
That was at 7 down and playing awful. Fair play to them they are putting a great show. Hope they win it
What channel is it on?
@Maurice Cott: sky sports arena 408
Well done mayo
The untouchable ref rode the arse off Cork and his love in with Aidan o Shea – Gaa ref are unbelievably bad
Brannigan is as bad at referring as he is at doing linesman!
36 mins in and cork already half way through their subs
Jesus… are they wearing slippers or what ???? FFS. Change em !!!!!
If we (cork) win this, is it defo the rossies next?
Kerrigan is a liability and cork are lame ducks
Why wasn’t it on tv
@Hello there friend: it was on sky
looks like this is running away from cork
Jesus cork are dirt
@ryan o sullivan: ???
K