Alan Smith Accuses David Raya of ‘Panicking’ in Shocking Wolves Draw

Alan Smith delivers brutal verdict on David Raya after late collapse at Molineux raises fresh fears over Arsenal title mentality.

Former Arsenal striker and Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith has accused David Raya of “panicking” after Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead in a dramatic 2–2 draw against bottom-of-the-table Wolves — a result that has reignited serious doubts about the Gunners’ title credentials.

Arsenal looked in full control at Molineux, only for late chaos to undo their dominance. What should have been a routine win instead became another psychological blow in a title race that is increasingly shifting from tactics to mentality.

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Smith’s verdict was ruthless — and direct. For him, this was not just a mistake. It was a pressure moment failure.

Arsenal began the night in complete control. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring inside five minutes, capping a confident start that reflected a team playing with authority and belief.

After the break, Piero Hincapié doubled the lead with a composed finish following a perfectly weighted pass from Gabriel Magalhães. At 2–0, the game appeared settled.

But Wolves refused to fold.

Hugo Bueno’s long-range strike pulled one back, shifting the momentum. From that moment, Arsenal’s control evaporated. The tempo dropped. The structure loosened. The composure disappeared.

Then came the collapse.

In stoppage time, a late Wolves cross caused panic in the Arsenal box. Raya rushed off his line, collided with Gabriel, and failed to claim the ball cleanly. The rebound struck Riccardo Calafiori and rolled over the line for a devastating equaliser.

Two goals up. Two points gone.

Alan Smith’s Brutal Verdict

Smith did not soften his analysis.

He described the draw as a “turning point” moment in the title race and warned that Arsenal’s reaction to pressure now looks increasingly fragile.

His criticism of Raya was direct:

“David Raya panicking — he came out when he didn’t need to come out. It doesn’t bode well for Arsenal being able to handle the pressure. Smith told Sky Sports.

For Smith, the error symbolised more than a goalkeeping mistake. It represented a psychological breakdown — decision-making under pressure, composure under stress, and control in chaos.

He also warned that the narrative will now shift towards mentality rather than performance, with the word “bottle” inevitably entering public debate.

Pressure, Not Performance, Is the Issue

This was not a tactical failure. Arsenal dominated possession, territory, and chances.

This was a mental collapse.

When Wolves scored, Arsenal did not reset. They did not slow the game. They did not manage the moment. Instead, anxiety spread through the team shape and decision-making.

Smith’s core message was clear: elite teams manage pressure moments. Title winners control chaos. They do not create it.

Raya has been outstanding for large parts of the season. His distribution, positioning, and composure have been central to Arsenal’s structure.

But title races magnify moments.

And this was a defining one.

Smith’s accusation of panic has already ignited debate — not just about Raya, but about Arsenal’s psychological readiness for a title run-in where every moment carries weight.

What It Means for Arsenal

This result does more than drop points.

It shifts pressure.

And it changes momentum.

It alters belief.

With Manchester City closing the gap and big fixtures approaching, Arsenal now enter a phase where mentality will matter more than form tables or xG models.

The North London derby now becomes more than a fixture. It becomes a psychological test.

ArsenalTalks Analysis

This wasn’t about Wolves.

This wasn’t about tactics.

And it wasn’t about quality.

This was about control under pressure.

Alan Smith’s verdict cuts deep because it points to a familiar pattern: when pressure rises, Arsenal’s structure holds — but their composure wobbles.

Title races are not decided by brilliance.
They are decided by stability.

And at Molineux, Arsenal lost theirs.

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