Arteta, Arsenal and the ghosts of Manchester City

Premier League recap: Arsenal blow 2-0 lead at Wolves, title gap narrows to City; North London Derby. Spurs with new manager Igor Tudor.

Gabriel Magalhaes rues Arsenal's mistakes that took the result away from the Gunners on Wednesday night. Wolves forced the Gunners to a 2-2 draw at the Molineux. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

The big question mark most pundits always attach to Arsenal's title dreams came to the fore again on Wednesday night as Mikel Arteta's side saw their two-goal lead vanish at Wolves to hand a huge advantage to Manchester City in the race.

Arsenal raced to a two-goal lead; Bukayo Saka celebrated his contract extension with an early goal off a Declan Rice pass, but there was no point in the game where you sensed the Gunners played like true champions.

Pinheiro Hincapie scored his first goal for the Gunners early in the second half. The ever-assured Arsenal defense would have made many feel like the game was done, but the hosts, who many thought had nothing to play for, had other ideas.

First, Hugo Bueno curled one in with David Raya a few steps outside his box six, and then Arsenal suddenly forgot how to press and close the opposition down. The Gunners settled for time-wasting tactics, which they later regretted.

Wolves leveled with what would later go down as a Riccardo Calafiori own goal, but they lost the game long before the ball went in. The title race is well and truly on; however, Arsenal is no longer at an advantage.

Manchester City has a game in hand, which could easily turn Arsenal's five-point advantage at the top into just two points. Both sides meet at the Etihad in April; will Arsenal still be in the conversation by then?

Arsenal fans slept with pains, but their team can turn it around quickly with the big one at the weekend, which is a trip to Tottenham. Igor Tudor is the new Tottenham coach. Will a new manager bounce hurt Arsenal there too?

If they cannot beat bottom club Wolves, is there confidence in the players to take on Tottenham, who would want to impress their new manager? Will Arsenal's title hopes finally disappear at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

After the North London Derby, the Gunners still have away days at Brighton, the Etihad, West Ham's London Stadium, and Selhurst Park on the final day. Potential banana skins here and there—are the fans right to be agitated?

Mikel Arteta's job should not be safe if he doesn't land a big title this season. The investment made in the summer must be rewarded with something significant. The League Cup final can offer some respite, but it will not be enough.