- Arsenal have been linked with a move for Wolves' Matheus Cunha this month
- Cunha played the full 90 minutes as the Gunners beat Vitor Pereira's side 1-0
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After the hour mark, Mark Matheus Cunha had hit a shot from outside the box, leaving David Raya to stimulate life, pawning the ball at full speed.
The resulting corner fell, again, to Cunha, who ripped away this opportunity. These two opportunities were among the best wolves to move away from Molineux with a point against the arsenal of title hunters. The Brazilian, as expected, was their most potent attacking threat.
However, those efforts summed up his afternoon. One of many promises: not enough to steal the show, but enough to tempt the Gunners before the January transfer window closes.
He often twisted and turned from the left side to the right, trying to make roads through the opposition backline. He kept the visitors alert and sometimes committed extra bodies to contain him.
Cunha has been widely linked as a transfer target for the North London club, and this was his proverbial shop window audition.
Mikel Arteta's interest in the talented attacker makes sense. He can play in all three forward positions, particularly useful when there is a hole in the forward area and the absence of Bukayo Saka on the right wing through a hamstring injury.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Wolves star Matheus Cunha in the transfer window
The Brazilian endured a frustrating afternoon as Wolves suffered a 1-0 defeat by the Gunners
But he showed enough to tempt Arsenal into making a move for him before the window closes.
Once the Gunners were down to 10 men, following Michael Oliver's highly questionable decision to send on Myles Lewis-Skelly for his challenge on Matt Doherty on a counter-attack, Wolves gradually came into the ascendancy, allowing Cunha more time on the ball. .
The overall numbers don't lie: he has 10 Premier League goals so far. Arsenal's leading scorer, Kai Hvertz, has eight. A marked gap when the objectives of these two teams are taken into account.
More broadly, Cunha has been directly involved in 33 Premier League goals since the start of last season, scoring 22 and assisting 11, ranking him ninth among all players. It's so important for a Wolves team looking at the relegation spectrum.
Manager Vitor Pereira took seven points from his first three top-flight games in charge, but the Midlands club have now suffered four consecutive losses, scoring just once in that period.
From the off, Cunha was ready for this, a clear eagerness to chase and run even when not on the ball. He fouled out after just four minutes and then won a free throw a couple of minutes later.
His ability to fill different positions on this pitch was impressive. For an opposition, that is difficult to track and contain.
Cunha kept the visitors alert at all times and they committed additional bodies to contain him
However, Cunha's body language is a possible red flag and Vitor Pereira has been critical of him
However, it must be said, your body language is a possible red flag. For example, on 33 minutes he visibly shook his head and raised his hands in the air towards substitute Hwang Hee-chan after Cunha's own pass fell slightly behind the striker.
Later, he complained to Rayan Ait-Nouri for not passing him to the wing. These are not typical trademarks of a team player, a characteristic that is so valued by Arteta.
The future of Cunha, who Pereira criticized for his body language during their defeat to Chelsea on Monday, is complicated.
He has two and a half years left on his current contract, with a new contract on the table for him to sign.
Whatever it is to sweat, Cunha has the ability to step up.
