Arnold stunner knocks Gladbach off top spot

Wolfsburg 2-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 1-0 Schlager (13’), 1-1 Embolo (15’), 2-1 Arnold (90'+1)

The Wolves were far quicker out of the blocks than the Foals, and Joao Victor rattled the frame of the Gladbach goal inside just four minutes when his thunderous right-footed effort struck the post. There was no denying the hosts, though, when they converted their fourth effort of the game through Xaver Schlager after excellent wing play from Jerome Roussillon, putting the ball through Stefan Lainer’s legs. The league leaders, however, were behind for just two minutes until Breel Embolo volleyed home Alassane Plea’s deep cross from the right with their first shot of the game. The remainder of the opening 45 minutes offered less goalmouth action apart from Josuha Guilavogui testing Yann Sommer and Laszlo Benes curling a free-kick into the hands of Koen Casteels.

The first big chance of the second half, however, fell to Foals top scorer Marcus Thuram when he latched onto the end of a through ball, but Casteels covered his angles well to deny the young Frenchman. Victor then went close again when he flashed an effort low across the face of Sommer’s goal, but this time the wrong side of the post he’d previously hit. The woodwork came to Gladbach’s rescue again moments later, though, when Kevin Mbabu flicked on a free-kick before John Brooks headed into Sommer’s grateful hands. Wolfsburg substitute Josip Brekalo had a golden chance to seal the win when through on goal, but the Croatian blasted over from the edge of the box. The winner did come, though, deep in injury time when Arnold latched onto Wout Weghorst's cushioned header to volley home from the edge of the box.

• Gladbach's summer signings have scored more goals (16) than newcomers at any other club: Embolo and Thuram lead the way with six, followed by Ramy Bensebaini (three) and Stefan Lainer (one).
• The Wolves are unbeaten in 15 home matches against Gladbach in the Bundesliga (W12, D5), which is their best such run against a top-flight side.
• Schlager’s goal was the first of his Bundesliga career having joined from Red Bull Salzburg in the summer. It was just his fourth shot having missed eight games with a broken ankle.
• Embolo’s strike was his sixth of the campaign, already equalling his personal best from an entire Bundesliga season.
• Arnold's winner was the fourth time this season Borussia have conceded in second-half injury time - a league high.
• Wolfsburg goalkeeper Casteels made his 100th Bundesliga appearance for the club.
• Gladbach’s run of eight matchdays in first place came to an end. It was their longest stint at the top since going 17 games the last time they won the title in 1976/77.

Watch: Arnold: "Weghorst's overhead kick almost stopped me scoring"

Wolfsburg: Casteels – Mbabu, Knoche, Brooks, Roussillon – Schlager (Gerhardt 77’), Guilavogui (c), Arnold – Steffen (Brekalo 59’), Victor (Klaus 87') – Weghorst
Unused subs: Pervan, William, Bruma, Otavio, Ginczek, Rexhbecaj
Out: Camacho (ankle), Tisserand (suspended)
Coach: Oliver Glasner

Gladbach: Sommer (c) – Lainer (Beyer 46’), Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Benes (Stindl 77’), Strobl, Hofmann – Embolo, Plea, Thuram (Herrmann 72’)
Unused subs: Sippel, Kramer, Raffael, Wendt, Jantschke, Neuhaus
Out: Poulsen (ankle), Zakaria (suspended)
Coach: Marco Rose

Watch: Embolo: "We want to finish the year in a good mood"