Wolves will look to win their first Premier League game since mid-October when they welcome league leaders Arsenal to the Molineux Stadium on Saturday.
Venue: Molineux Stadium (Wolverhampton)
Key Statistics
Wolves are enduring their worst start to a season since 2010/11 (W2, D4, L8).
The hosts have scored the feast goals in the league this season (8).
They are winless in their last four league games (D1, L3).
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last seven league games (W6, D1).
The Gunners are the league’s best away side this season (W5, D1, L1).
They are the only side to score in every PL game this season.
The visitors have the joint-most clean sheets (six) in the league this season.
Arsenal have scored in each of their last 29 H2Hs (W20, D5, L4).
Head to head
In 16 Premier League meetings between both sides, Arsenal have ten wins while Wolves have just three wins.
Latest performances in all competitions
Wolves: W-L-D-L-L
Arsenal: L-W-W-W-L
Wolves
Wolves will be looking to build from their 1-0 win over Leeds United in the EFL Cup last Wednesday when they welcome Arsenal to the Molineux Stadium.
The home side advanced to the fourth round of the EFL Cup courtesy of a Boubacar Traore strike in the game’s dying stages.
However, Wolves have not had an excellent start to the season which resulted in the sacking of Bruno Lage, who left the club in 19th place, level on points with Nottingham Forest in 20th place.
Wolves have since then brought in former Sevilla and Spain National coach Julen Lopetegui to take over the reins at the Molineux Stadium. However, the Spanish manager will not be taking charge of his team until after the World Cup, but he might have some sort of influence in proceedings at the Molineux on Saturday.
Wolves succumbed to a 2-3 defeat to Brighton last weekend, with goals from Pascal Gross, Adam Lallana and Kaoru Mitoma, just about enough to secure three points for the Seagulls, despite Ruben Neves and Goncalo Guedes getting their names on the scoresheet too.
With eight defeats after 14 rounds of football, including a winless run in their last four games in the league, there is a lot to be done by new manager Lopetegui.
For now, however, interim boss Steve Davis will be hoping for an improved performance from his boys in what will be his last outing before Lopetegui takes charge.
Possible Wolves starting line-up
Jose Sa; Nélson Semedo, Nathan Collins, Max Kilman, Hugo Bueno; Boubacar Traoré, Joao Moutinho; Goncalo Guedes, Rúben Neves, Daniel Podence; Hee-Chan Hwang.
Injured: Jonny, Pedro Neto, Raul Jimenez
Doubtful: Matheus Nunes
Suspended: Diego Costa
Arsenal
Arsenal, on the other hand, will look to pick up their 12th win of the season when they take on Wolves.
The Gunners showed their title ambitions with a hard-fought win over Chelsea last weekend. Arsenal were the better team in a goalless first half and carried their form into the second half. Still, the breakthrough wouldn’t come until the 63rd minute when Brazilian defender Gabriel Malgahaes turned in a corner kick by Bukayo Saka.
Mikel Arteta was effusive about his team’s performance against the Blues but could not prevent them from crashing out of the EFL Cup to Brighton last Wednesday. Eddie Nketiah opened up the scoring for the Gunners in the 20th minute. However, a Danny Welbeck penalty and further strikes from Kaoru Mitoma and Tariq Lamptey secured the win for the visitors, condemning Arsenal to their third loss of the season in all competitions.
Having kept their focus and drive going in the Premier League title race, Arteta’s men will be hoping to bounce back from that disappointing Carabao Cup outing and secure the win that will keep them in the number one spot when teams depart for the World Cup break.
They will fancy their chances of winning this tie given the form they are currently on. They are currently the only side to score in every PL game this season and also have the joint-most clean sheets (six).
However, Arteta will do well to keep his side in check after picking up three red cards across the last two away visits here (W1, L1), including one for their joint-top Premier League scorer Gabriel Martinelli.
Possible Arsenal starting line-up
Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Thomas Partey, Martin Ødegaard, Granit Xhaka; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli.
Injured: Takehiro Tomiyasu, Emile-Smith Rowe
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Odds
Prediction
Wolves 0-2 Arsenal
