Arsenal 1 - 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Steven Fletcher earns ten-man Wolves a point

ARSENE Wenger accepted Arsenal had let an opportunity pass them by after being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by 10-man Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners could have capitalised on dropped points by Chelsea on Boxing Day to climb back into the Barclays Premier League top four with victory in a game put back by 24 hours because of an underground strike.

However, despite taking an early lead through Gervinho, Arsenal were pegged back before the break by Steven Fletcher’s close-range header.

The visitors then survived the second-half dismissal of midfielder Nenad Milijas by referee Stuart Attwell as inspired keeper Wayne Hennessey denied the home side time and again.

Wenger felt the expectation level had perhaps got the better of his squad.

“It was the kind of day where maybe we were not relaxed enough, maybe we wanted it so much, that we were a bit too in the ‘wanting zone’ and not enough in just the ‘technical zone’,” the Arsenal manager said.

“There are going to be a lot of twists and turns. We just have to keep going and take the positives out of the game.

“It is frustrating, but I am more frustrated by the result than the performance and the spirit. You cannot fault the attitude or the commitment or the desire to win the game.”

In the 57th minute, Laurent Koscielny’s cross struck Scotland defender Christophe Berra on the arm, but Attwell was not interested. Wenger said: “What can I do? It looks like for us, to get a penalty we will have to fight very hard.”

Arsenal were without winger Theo Walcott because of a stomach problem but he is expected to be available for the New Year’s Eve visit of QPR and Wenger remained coy over suggestions of a loan deal to bring former skipper Thierry Henry back before the Major League Soccer season starts again in the United States.

“No, nothing has happened since last week,” he said.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy punched the air in delight at the final whistle – which came after six minutes of stoppage time during which Arsenal bombarded the visitors’ penalty area.

“I am delighted and proud. It was a difficult place to come and play,” he said. “Wayne is a good goalkeeper, one of the best in the league.”

Arsenal: Szczesny, Djourou (Chamakh 85), Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Song (Ramsey 71), Arteta, Rosicky, Benayoun (Arshavin 63), Gervinho, van Persie. Subs Not Used: Almunia, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin, Miquell.

Wolves: Hennessey, Zubar (Stearman 50), Johnson, Berra, Ward, Jarvis, Henry, Forde (Guedioura 71), Hunt (Doyle 86), Milijas, Fletcher. Subs Not Used: De Vries, Elokobi, Ebanks-Blake, Hammill.