Although Arsenal managed a very long winning run, three draws out of our last four games suggests that tiredness is creeping in, but with the amount of games we have been playing lately it is hardly surprising. But we will have to be alert against A wolves team that has been the surprise package this season after winning promotion last season. They have won a few games against lowly sides but have seemed to raise themselves for big games, drawing against both Manchester clubs and only losing narrowly to the Spuds last week.
But that was their third defeat in a row and maybe their bubble has burst, but they certainly have talent in the side and could hurt us if we are not on the top of our game. The Wolves manager, like Unai Emery, is trying to get his players to play to their best, even if the results don’t come straight away. “You cannot get results if you don’t perform well,” he said. “We work to perform better, to play the way we want to play. Then we try to achieve the result, but we don’t think about the result first.
“No matter what, you must perform well, do your tasks, play good football and try to win. The best way is to achieve a result is with a good performance.
“We have to focus on performing well, your quality and talent. First, we think of how we want to play and achieve, and the result comes after.”
That sounds like our boss talking, except that we have managed to play badly and still get results! But now we are playing his team at Fortress Emirates and should have more than enough firepower to get another win under our belts. Although everyone is praising Wolves form this season, let’s look at their their six home games this season…..
So they have beaten Burnley and Southampton, but to put it in perspective those are their only two home wins in their last 18 League games at Molineaux, hardly intimidating stats!
And as for their away form it is not much better……
Their only two wins were away at West Ham and Palace, again not so inspiring, and before that they had only won 1 away in the previous 20 games. Strangely enough that was also in London, at QPR last season.
So onto the team news. We have already posted our Arsenal injury update earlier, and I also believe that Ramsey and Mhkitaryan will be dropped to the bench, so this is the team I predict Emery will use today….
Leno
Bellerin Sokratis Holding Kolasinac
Xhaka Torreira Guendouzi
Ozil Aubameyang
Lacazette
Emery also hinted that Eddie Nketiah will be the immediate replacement for Danny Welbeck, so I’m hoping he starts bringing him on when he has the chance so we can see if he can perform consistently. Emery said: “The first [choice] is to look inside, and we have one striker also who is working well with the under-23s and is improving also, Eddie Nketiah, and he could have chances.
“But I think it’s early for speaking about the possibility [of making signings] in January.”
I’m expecting Eddie, Cech, Mustafi, Ramsey, Iwobi, Mhki and Maitland-Niles to be our subs, and that team is more than enough to give Wolves their fourth defeat in a row.
Scoe Prediction… 4-1
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