Yerson Mosquera's own goal four minutes into second-half stoppage time spared Arsenal's blushes as they edged out Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 at Emirates Stadium.
The Premier League's top and bottom sides were already separated by 31 points after just 15 games, but there was nothing to split them for much of Saturday's contest.
Arsenal did not manage a single shot on target until the 68th minute, but they went ahead in fortuitous fashion three minutes later as Bukayo Saka's corner struck the post and then bounced in off Sam Johnstone.
It looked as though Wolves had salvaged a stunning draw when substitute Tolu Arokodare equalised in the 90th minute, but there was one final twist to come as Mosquera headed past his own goalkeeper from Saka's cross.
While Arsenal are now five points clear of Manchester City at the summit, albeit having played an additional game, Wolves could be 16 points adrift of 17th place by the end of Sunday's fixtures.
How the match unfolded
Neither team managed a shot on goal until the 27th minute, when Hwang Hee-chan escaped in behind but fired straight at David Raya.
Gabriel Martinelli then nodded a Declan Rice corner across goal and wide when totally unmarked, while Piero Hincapie recovered from slipping over to block Jorgen Strand Larsen's goal-bound strike in first-half stoppage time.
Arsenal upped the tempo early in the second half, with Martinelli bending wide before an audacious Rice free-kick brushed Johnstone's fingertips on its way over.
Johnstone then made a fine save to deny another Rice curler, but he had an unfortunate own goal against his name soon afterwards as Saka's corner bounced in off his back.
After Viktor Gyokeres shot wide on the turn, Arokodare appeared to have rescued a point when he glanced a cross from fellow substitute Mateus Mane past Raya, but Wolves could not hang on.
Saka whipped a lovely cross towards Gabriel Jesus in the centre, and though Mosquera got ahead of the striker, he could only plant his header into his own net.
Arteta breathes a sigh of relief
With Man City not in action until Sunday, when they face a potentially tricky FA Cup final rematch against Crystal Palace, Arsenal had a golden chance to pull clear at the summit.
Saka was one bright spark for them in the first half, continually beating Toti Gomes and providing one excellent centre that was missed by Gyokeres in the middle, with Martinelli's effort at the far post being blocked behind by Matt Doherty.
But the jeers that targeted Johnstone every time he delayed a goal-kick told the story of the opening period, with the home fans growing frustrated as Wolves sat deep and restricted the space available to the leaders in the final third.
And though Arsenal moved the ball with greater urgency after the interval, they needed a huge slice of fortune to break the deadlock.
Mikel Arteta would have wanted to see his team control the closing stages, but Arsenal looked nervous and allowed Wolves to creep ever further up the pitch, before Hincapie was outmuscled by Arokodare for the equaliser.
But title-winning teams must win games when not at their best, and if Arsenal lift the Premier League trophy next May, Mosquera's own goal – which was forced by another Saka cross – could prove vital. Next up for the Gunners is a trip to Everton next Saturday.
Edwards stands proud despite defeat
The mood was low at Molineux on Monday as Wolves went down with a whimper in their 4-1 defeat to Manchester United – their fourth straight loss since Rob Edwards took charge.
Though Edwards is still yet to see his team pick up a point, there was a very different feeling at full-time in north London.
It’s unlikely that many Wolves made the trip with much optimism, but their team had them believing after becoming just the second visiting side this season – after Man City – to reach half-time at Emirates Stadium with their clean sheet intact.
Edwards added Rui Pedro Silva – a former assistant to Nuno Espirito Santo – to his backroom staff this week, and Wolves' staunch defensive work was reminiscent of the Nuno era.
And even after falling behind in the most unfortunate fashion imaginable, Wolves picked themselves up and took the game to the leaders. Substitutes Fer Lopez, Jhon Arias, Mane and Arokodare were all involved in the move for their goal, justifying Edwards' faith.
But another cruel blow ultimately denied Wolves just their third point of the campaign, with Mosquera looking crestfallen at the final whistle.
There are plenty of positives for Edwards to take ahead of next week's visit of Brentford, though he will have to pick up his squad after such a galling defeat.
Club reports
Arsenal report | Wolves report
What the managers said
Mikel Arteta: "We have periods so three minutes deep, so passive, really poor defensive habits not acceptable for our level. We need to improve that and at the end, you rely on an individual action to score the goal and win the game.
"We create lots of situations without picking the right players in the final pass. Regardless of how the game goes, you can always find a solution to win it. Now we are going to have a clean week. Then we go again Christmas period, we know what happens."
Rob Edwards: "We have lost a game and I think it is our fault. The lads carried the game plan out really well. The two goals we conceded are bizarre, especially the first one. To get back in it and work that hard and show a lot of fight, spirit and courage.
"To lose it late on, it hurts. There is a lot there to like, but I hate losing. What we have come into is difficult - we are going the right way about it. It is a positive night apart from the result. But we are in a results business."
Next PL fixtures
Key facts
Arokodare became the first Nigerian player to score a Premier League goal for Wolves, with his equaliser Wolves’ first shot in the second half.
Wolves have conceded more own goals than any other side in the Premier League this season (4), while their two today were the first Arsenal have benefitted from this term.
Arsenal failed to register a shot on target in the first half of a Premier League game for the first time this season, and for the first time at the Emirates Stadium since December 2024 vs Manchester United.
This was the seventh time in Premier League history a team scored twice in a Premier League match with both goals being own goals, and first since Leicester against Liverpool in December 2022.