Top four hunting Arsenal face outstanding Wolves

Arsenal face a trip to the Molineux as they hunt to claim a top four spot and a place back in the Champions League. Both teams will be trying to get three points as they look to end their campaigns on very strong notes.

Arsenal played against a very tough Crystal Palace side in their last league fixture on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Christian Benteke but, the Gunners fought back and equalised after the break in the 47th minute, goal scored by Mesut Ozil gave Arsenal more rhythm. Wilfried Zaha and James McArthur gave Palace a dominant lead and even though Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Arsenal some hope the game ultimately finished 3-2 and another opportunity was wasted by the Gunners to go into the top four. Unai Emery, Arsenal boss spoke about the improvements in confidence of the defence.

He said:

“First it’s because they have very good players.

“Second it’s because today in the set pieces, we didn’t work and we weren’t strong like we were in the rest of the season.

“The first goal came from a free-kick, the third from a corner.

“Today we struggled more than we wanted in these two situations and really the result can come, this result, through it.”

Where as for Wolves, they played on Saturday against a relegation battling Brighton with both teams going into the fixture needing every point in order to achieve their aims.

After a very dominant display from Nuno Espirito Santos’ side they were unable to score the key goal in this match and drew the game 0-0 with both teams taking a point from the match. Santo insisted in a post-match interview that the final ball needs to be better if they want to win games week in week out.

He said:

“It was a tough game, I think we had a lot of moments, we had a good game, good combinations, a lot of intensity. It’s not easy to break a team that is so, so well organised in the box, not allowing any spaces.

“We tried with wide areas, with combinations, and we had many chances. The intensity was there, the balance was there, it’s not easy to finish an action and get the ball again, and we didn’t allow anything to Brighton.

“I’m proud of the boys, proud of the fans, today. We hit the ball two times on the wood, many, many chances, but it was not our day and let’s be prepared for the next one.”

The last time these teams met was in November 2018 at the Emirates Stadium. Wolves started the game very strong and opened the scoring in the 13th minute, goal scored by winger Ivan Cavaleiro. Arsenal manage to salvage a point from this game very late on as Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored in the 86th minute to secure a vital point at home.

Team News

Wolves have a full fit line-up to pick from that can play against Arsenal.

Arsenal will be without long absentees Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck. It may be too soon for Aaron Ramsey to return to the first team in this fixture.