Arsenal vs Wolves Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
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It is first versus second in the Premier League this weekend and it could well be an annihilation as Arsenal take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / USA – Cannot be streamed
Arsenal preview: Bouncing back
After a surprise defeat to Aston Villa last weekend in which Emi Buendia scored a very late and dramatic winner at Villa Park for the Villains, Arsenal bounced back emphatically in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.
The Gunners maintained top spot in the league phase of Europe’s elite club competition by easing to a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadion, courtesy of a Noni Madueke brace as well as a Gabriel Martinelli strike.
Wolves preview: Woeful Wolves
Even despite the appointment of Rob Edwards, who controversially departed Middlesbrough during the November international break, Wolverhampton Wanderers have remained woeful, and perhaps appear to have even regressed further.
Wolves come into this one on the back of a genuinely horrendous performance at home to Manchester United on Monday evening as supporter protests gave the backing noise to a 4-1 demolition at the hands of the Red Devils.
Arsenal team news:A few issues
Mikel Arteta has said that both Jurrien Timber and Leandro Trossard are a 'matter of days' away from being fit so, while not entirely ruled out of this weekend, they would have to be viewed as major doubts against Wolves.
Declan Rice will also have to be assessed ahead of the game as he recovers from illness, while William Saliba is definitely going to be available for Everton and could just about squeeze himself back into the side for this one. Riccardo Calafiori is missing through suspension.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Norgaard, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Unavailable: Gabriel (Injured), Mosquera (Injured), Calafiori (Suspended), Havertz (Injured), Dowman (Injured)
Questionable: Saliba (Injured), Timber (Injured), Rice (Illness), Trossard (Injured)
Wolves team news: Bellegarde now out
As they travel down to the capital city, Wolverhampton Wanderers have a fresh injury concern as Haiti international Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who scored a rare Wolves goal last week, is now expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks, according to Rob Edwards.
Edwards has also confirmed that Marshall Munetsi, who was going to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations with Zimbabwe, has also been ruled out for a similar amount of time, while Rodrigo Gomes is also sidelined. Joao Gomes has returned from suspension.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Johnstone; Mosquera, Agbadou, Toti; Tchatchoua, J. Gomes, Andre, Wolfe; Hwang, Arias; Strand Larsen
Unavailable: Bentley (Injured), Munetsi (Injured), Chiwone (Injured), R. Gomes (Injured), Bellegarde (Injured)
Questionable:
Arsenal vs Wolves prediction
Arsenal rotated a fair bit in midweek and, as a result of that as well as their desire to bounce back from defeat in Birmingham last weekend, the hosts will go all guns blazing for this one in north London. That spells potential disaster for Wolves, who looked like a team that could genuinely concede at will the other day. A heavy home win is to be expected to continue Wolves’ misery.
Arsenal vs Wolves tip: Arsenal to win -2 handicap
