After Thursday's bleak night in the Europa League, the Gunners return to Premier League action tomorrow at the Emirates. Unai Emery's red army welcome an impressive Wolves team to London where nothing but a win will do. Having now drawn two on the spin, Arsenal need to get back to winning ways to remain in touch with the top four. Slipping to fifth last weekend, whilst Spurs beat Wolves and climbed to fourth, a solid three points will set us back on the right path ahead of a busy next two months.
Arsenal
Form: W W D W D D
League Position: 5th
Goals Scored: 27
Goals Conceded: 15
Wolves
Form: D W W L L L
League Position: 11th
Goals Scored: 13
Goals Conceded: 12
Having fielded an mix of youth and experience in a pretty underwhelming night against Sporting on Thursday, Emery is expected to revert back to his big boys and his usual league XI and shape. In goal, Bernd Leno should return to start as now cup 'keeper Cech will occupy the back up spot on the bench. There is no doubt that Leno's footwork, passing ability and general composure has helped to improve the team's build up out of the back. He's far more at ease and deserves to be the number one. In defence, Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac will return to the full back spots having not been in the starting XI Thursday night. Kolasinac saw some action from the bench which will have certainly aided his return to first team action. Rob Holding should continue at centre back having impressed so much over recent weeks, and his likely partner is Shkodran Mustafi, who together, have formed a promising partnership since Sokratis' injury a month ago. The big Greek is back and played in mid week but is expected to return to the bench for this one.
Midfield will see the usual three in the middle. Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira in the engine room will Mesut Ozil in the free number ten role in front, in behind the striker. On the wings, top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is likely to come from the left with academy product Alex Iwobi from the left. We saw Danny Welbeck stretchered off Thursday night and with the likely diagnosis of a very bad long term injury, the only real threat to Iwobi and Aubameyang on the wings now is Armenian captain Henrikh Mhkitaryan. However, the number seven has failed to impress in the last few games and rightfully should be the third choice winger right now. Alex Lacazette will be restored to the XI to start up the middle in the central striker's role. He played so well against Liverpool and deservedly rediscovered his goal scoring form - so more of that sauce please Laca.
Wolves are looking quite the mixed bag at present. In looking at their season so far, they drew with United and City, and took Spurs close for a point last time out. However, they have lost games that perhaps results like the ones above suggest they should win. Having lost to teams like Brighton and Leicester, Wolves are somewhat inconsistent. Good enough for mid table yes, good enough to beat Arsenal away from home (where they seem to lose most), probably not. There are plenty of threats mind, Adama Traore, Helder Costa and Diogo Jota possess all the pace, trickery and skills to threaten any back line. Arsenal have always looked vulnerable against pace, with only really Hector Bellerin being blessed with any real speed. He'll have to be at his best to keep Wolves' speedsters out.
Attacking football, composure, organisation and patience should carry the Gunners through though. Three points and another notch in the win column is the minimum requirement from this match and if players like Lacazetter, Aubameyang and Ozil get going, it could be a real good attacking performance. Backed by the highlight reliable and increasingly impressive Lucas Torreira, the defensive unit has never been so protected and the team hasn't had this much balance in a long time. Wolves will truly have to produce something special to get a win here.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Shkodran Mustafi
CB: Rob Holding
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Lucas Torreira
RW: Alex Iwobi
CAM: Mesut Ozil
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
ST: Alex Lacazette
Prediction: 2-0, Lacazette and Aubameyang on the score sheet.
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