Arsenal will host Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates on Saturday but things went south the last time they hosted a game there, a game which well was complemented by controversies and Arsenal defensive vulnerabilities highlighted once again. Unai Emerey will be looking to get back to winning ways against Nuno’s Wolves, who have made a reputation of being the giant killers since their promotion to Premiership last year.
Arsenal faithful will be hoping for Emery to start Mesut Ozil after his impressive display against Liverpool in the mid-week and this decision will certainly impact atmosphere in a big way. Though you could expect one thing for sure, Arsenal fans chanting ‘We’ve got Ozil’ to take a jibe at Unai with respect to his treatment of Mesut lately.
It was very frustrating last week if you’re an Arsenal fan, but Grani Xhaka did issue an apology letter after being left out of squad to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and its to be seen whether Emery names Granit Xhaka in the matchday squad, and if so, Whether Granit Xhaka walk out wearing the arm-band?
Wolves away at Arsenal has always been tough on them – Wolves has never won at Emirates (in fact their last away win over Arsenal came in 1979 at Highbury). Though its not expected to be a free hit for the Gunners.
TEAM NEWS
We could well see the duo of Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney start together in the Premier League for the first time this season. They are fully fit after recovering from their injuries and there is a good possibility they be drafted into the starting eleven in place of Callum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to lead the line for the home side paring with Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette (and hopefully Ozil).
For Wolves, Willy Boly is ruled out for ‘a number of months’ after undergoing surgery to his fractured fibula. Though Nuno could welcome back Morgan Gibbs-White who missed the draw against the Magpies draw with a back problem last week.
Patrick Coutrone was among the goals in mid-week and the Italian will be looking to get back to his goalscoring best and what better way to start than Arsenal at Emirates?
PROBABLE LINE-UP
Arsenal Predicted XI: Bernd Leno; Hector Bellerin, David Luiz, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Kieran Tierney, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Mesut Ozil, Nicolas Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette
Wolves Predicted XI: Rui Patricio; Leander Dendoncker, Conor Coady, Romain Saiss; Matt Doherty, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves, Jonny; Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, Diogo Jota