Arsenal will be looking to continue their strong run against one of their favorite Premier League opponents as they head to Molineux to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners gave themselves a boost in midweek with a 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, just days after Wolves were beaten 3-1 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
For a brief moment during the Zagreb match, Arsenal fans may have experienced a sense of déjà vu as they struggled to build on Declan Rice's early goal and allowed some sloppy defensive moments. However, a 65th-minute header from Kai Havertz and a tap-in from Martin Ødegaard sealed the win and put Arsenal just one point away from securing a spot in the Champions League last 16.
Avoiding the playoff stage could also mean a much-needed midseason trip to Dubai, something that has proven to be a great recharge for Arteta’s team in the past. After last weekend’s painful 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, which saw them throw away a two-goal lead, Arsenal are in desperate need of a break. The draw left them six points behind Liverpool, who still have a game in hand, with surprise package Nottingham Forest just behind on goal difference.
Despite that frustrating result, Arsenal have gone unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League matches – the second-longest streak in the league after Liverpool’s 17-game run. They’ll be confident against Wolves, especially after beating them 2-0 earlier this season. That win extended their remarkable run to 34 consecutive games without losing to Wolves in all competitions, with the last time they failed to score against them dating back to 1979.
This 46-year run without a clean sheet against Arsenal is a troubling stat for Wolves, who have seen their early-season bounce under new manager Vitor Pereira fizzle out since the turn of the year.
Gary O'Neil's replacement got off to a decent start with seven points from his first nine available, but Wolves are now on a three-game losing streak, having been beaten by Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, and Chelsea. In each of those matches, they've conceded three goals while only managing to score once.
Wolves are currently just above the relegation zone, with their position only being saved by goal difference ahead of Ipswich Town in 18th. They’re now at risk of losing their first four league games in a calendar year for the third time in history, following similar runs in 1906 and 1982.
Adding to their concerns, the fourth loss in each of those previous sequences came against Arsenal. If Arsenal manage to win again on Saturday, it would be their eighth consecutive victory over Wolves, further deepening the Old Gold's struggles.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Arsenal managed to control the game against Dinamo Zagreb despite missing William Saliba, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. He’s not expected to be out for more than a couple of weeks, and Arteta has even hinted that he could return for the match at Molineux, though that seems unlikely.
There’s also concern over Myles Lewis-Skelly, who missed the Champions League win after injuring his knee in the Villa draw. Gabriel Jesus (knee), Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Ben White (knee), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) remain unavailable.
However, it's not all bad news for Arsenal on the injury front. Ethan Nwaneri and Riccardo Calafiori both made the squad for the Dinamo match after recovering from muscle issues, though Calafiori didn’t get any playing time.
For Wolves, there were no new injury concerns following their trip to Chelsea, and there’s a chance Toti Gomes (thigh) could return when Arsenal visit.
The hosts are still without Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Boubacar Traore (knee), Enso Gonzalez (knee), and Yerson Mosquera (knee), while Mario Lemina was left out of the squad against Chelsea as he considers a potential move away from the club.
On the topic of transfers, Pereira expressed frustration with Matheus Cunha’s body language after the Chelsea draw, as the Brazilian didn’t acknowledge the Wolves supporters at Stamford Bridge. However, it’s unlikely that Cunha will be dropped for the Arsenal game, despite his reported links to other clubs.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Doherty, Agbadou, Bueno; Semedo, Andre, J. Gomes, Ait-Nouri; R. Gomes, Cunha; Larsen
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Kiwior, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
EXPERT PREDICTION
Wolves 1-3 Arsenal
Arsenal haven't been the best at keeping clean sheets away from home, conceding in each of their last nine Premier League matches. However, their defensive weaknesses may not matter much at Molineux.
Arsenal have scored 11 goals from crosses in the Premier League this season, the most in the league, while Wolves have conceded 10 goals from such deliveries. So, don’t be surprised if Arsenal take advantage of their aerial and set-piece strength to secure a win.
