Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Vitor Pereira has acknowledged that his side failed to deliver against Arsenal as they succumbed to their 10-man opponents.
The West Midlands outfit were bidding to avoid losing four successive league games at the start of a calendar year for the first time since 1982 and end a run of seven consecutive defeats to the Gunners.
When Myles Lewis-Skelly was handed a controversial red card during the first half, the platform had been set for Wolves to end their dismal run.
Instead, Riccardo Calafiori's goal during the final quarter - after Joao Gomes had also been sent off for Wolves - condemned the home side to a hugely frustrating 1-0 defeat.
While Arsenal sit in second position in the Premier League table, Wolves only remain outside of the relegation zone on goal difference.
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What did Pereira say after Arsenal defeat?
Although Pereira was quick to praise the work-rate and commitment of his team, the Portuguese admitted that an opportunity had been squandered to get back on track.
Speaking to Match of the Day, Pereira said: "At the end of the game, I tell you we lost a big chance to win this match because we play a very good game. In my opinion, we played a very good game.
"Tactically, commitment, energy, we did everything to win the game. What [we] missed was to score one goal. We had two chances before they scored, we have two clear chances to score the first goal. After the yellow card for Joao, they score one goal and we didn't."
On Gomes, he added: "Joao gave a lot to us. He's a player that in every match, gives 100% from himself. We talked at half time and he said to me 'coach, emotionally I'm balanced, I'm okay, I will control myself. Don't worry, don't worry.' In the end, it is football.
"The problem, we must say, [is] we need solutions for the midfield. We need solutions, we need to have more players with the skills to play with two in the middle. I think [in] the next days, we have to bring another midfielder because we need it."
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What next for Wolves?
With only one Premier League fixture between now and February 16, Wolves have time to regroup, the assumption being that they will soon have at least one fresh face added to their squad.
Next up is a West Midlands derby at home to Aston Villa next Saturday before they make the trip to face Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup fourth round on February 9.
Visits to Liverpool and Bournemouth follow that double-header, emphasising the importance of regaining some belief ahead of those games.
Darren Plant
