Arsenal host Wolves in a top-vs-bottom showdown in the Premier League.
Victory would keep Arsenal at the summit and move five points clear of second-placed Manchester City who don’t play until Sunday afternoon.
Wolves will stay bottom regardless of the result.
Team News
Riccardo Calafiori is suspended for Arsenal after he collected his fifth booking in their 2-1 Premier League defeat at Aston Villa, although he was available for their 3-0 Champions League win at Club Brugge in midweek as the ban only applies domestically.
Declan Rice (illness), William Saliba, Leandro Trossard and Jurrien Timber (all knock) face late fitness tests
Max Dowman, Cristhian Mosquera (both ankle), Gabriel (adductor) and Kai Havertz (knee) remain sidelined.
Wolves will welcome Joao Gomes back after he was suspended for their 4-1 home defeat to Manchester United.
Marshall Munetsi (calf), Daniel Bentley (ankle), Leon Chiwone (ACL) and Rodrigo Gomes (groin) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Arsenal host Wolves at Emirates Stadium, London, on Saturday 13 December at 8pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight meetings against Wolves (W8).
- Wolves have won just one of their last five visits to Arsenal (W1, L4).
- Bukayo Saka has scored in Arsenal’s last three home games against Wolves (W3).
- Arsenal have kept clean sheets in three of their last four league games at home (W4), only failing to do so in a 4-1 win over Tottenham.
- Wolves have claimed just one point in three away top-flight trips to London-based opposition this season (D1, L2), which coincidentally came in North London in a Saturday 8pm kick-off at Tottenham in September.
Prediction
Having recovered from their narrow defeat at Aston Villa where their finishing was uncharacteristically below par and clinically dispatched Club Brugge, Arsenal now can approach this home game full of renewed confidence despite their injury issues because this is easily winnable with their attack.
Wolves meanwhile did well to hold Man Utd at half time yet their defensive fragilities showed in the second half with awful marking and handling, which has to be an enormous worry because they’re surely going to be doing a lot of defensive work here.
To be totally honest, I just can’t see Arsenal losing this in what should be a painful evening for the visitors.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Wolves
Result: Arsenal 2-1 Wolves
Leave a Reply