wolves v arsenal

Confirmed Arsenal team to face Wolves – Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri start

Arsenal travel to Molineux today to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers and this is the team that Mikel Arteta has announced to achieve the win and take all three points.

Arsenal team v wolves

Arsenal need the win; a draw is really no good, especially if Liverpool secure the expected home win against Ipswich, which kicks off at the same time.

The points gap currently stands at six, with Liverpool having a game in hand, so it is clear why the Gunners cannot afford for the gap between the sides to increase.

It should also be noted that week in, week out, we have been repeating the same thing, and the problem with that is that we are running out of games.

Wolves, for their part, are also in need of points. They are currently 17th, only outside the relegation zone on goal difference, and in front of their own fans, they will be highly motivated to put in a strong performance. They are likely to employ a low block and look to counter at every opportunity.

On paper, Arsenal should comfortably secure the victory, but we have seen many times this season that favoured teams can come unstuck. Any complacency from Arsenal could prove costly.

As long as the lads play to their potential, they should leave the Midlands with all three points. Hopefully, they do just that and continue their quest to lift the Premier League at the end of the season.

Tags Wolves v Arsenal

244 Comments

  1. This bench is empty, no sub that can impact the game. I’ll rather start Sterling and put either Troasard or Martinelli on the bench in case we need an impact sub

    1. Yes. I also think Sterling plays RW slightly better than Martinelli, but we still need a new inverted-RW

  2. We could do with some “impact” commenters. Good starting eleven, and not too bad a bench all things considerd.

    1. And yet some still think we should be clear of Liverpool!

      We’re pretty much losing a player almost every game. I have never seen an injury crisis like this.

      1. It’s even worse when compared to Liverpool. Salah, luis diaz, Van dijk, Arnold, Gakpo, Gravenberch their best players this season have missed a combined 1 game.

      2. You have wonder what went on with the Calafori medical when we signed as his fitness issue is a constant concern. Merino bang average, Neto has never actually played and Sterling might as well have never played. What a mediocre couple of transfer windows including the current one….

  3. Still think we are in danger of over hyping Skelley after one good game
    Your playing a teenager out of position when there left backs are on the bench ?
    Glad Saliba is back

    1. Lewis-Skelly played inverted-LB well in several games, where he can utilize his skills as a left-DM

      1. Look at it another way

        We have a brilliant young player who is keeping Calafiori, Zinchenko and Tierney on the bench.

        If he loses form they are there to step in

        I am struggling to see a problem here

    2. He’s had more than one good game. In fact, the majority of his performances have been excellent, hence he’s our main LB at the moment.

    3. One game yeah sure i guess it was Gunnersaurus who made morgan rogers lose his mind last game with how much he was dominating him.

    4. There were already reports from last season of Skelly being molded to play Zinchenko Inverted LB position, so out of position nah that’s his new position.

      1. Yep πŸ‘ just like Saka is out of position on the right wing as he played quite a few games at left back and then of course Gareth Bale, a left back transformed into one of the best forwards in the world (pity it was for spurs and Real Madrid). There are many examples of players being better utilised in not their original position.

      1. Last 4 games ?
        Man United goal came from him being targeted
        As did the Liverpool goal , the Man City goal , etc
        Just be careful with him

          1. I said targeted
            They play ball in air to right back
            Skelley decides to bomb forward missing his header and therefore is out of position

            Like when Arnold played a ball over his head and he was too far up the pitch

  4. Way to go Arteta . . .

    We know some have penned down their doom epistles waiting for a loss:
    We should sign cunha . . .
    Arteta out . . .
    Skelly out of position . . .
    Nwaneri too young and inexperienced . . .

    And when Arsenal wins.
    The go saying ” it is just wolves, afterall.
    Arsenal should have won ten zero.

    They are going to eat the articles they’ve written.

    1. Don’t think anyone doubted our ability to win at Wolves
      They simply said we can’t win title without a striker
      They will eat their articles if we win title without that striker
      Fact we are so far behind in title race is not them.being proved wrong ?

  5. MLS should be more attack minded. He needs a goal or assist. He’s too passive for my liking, that’s why I prefer the more explosive Calafiori.

    1. Haven’t honestly paid attention to Calafiori over the last few games (did he play?). Is he on the bench for being out of form?

  6. Havertz my lord 2 great chance s it’s painful to watch I would have scored the 2nd

    1. I already notice the calm with which he receives and moves the ball around. I cannot justify ever playing a fit Partey out of midfield.

      And I suspect that this is one of the few seasons where he has been fit. To see him out of position is a disgrace.

  7. Michael Oliver is a cheat !!!! Here’s the proof never seen a red card like this.

    @Dan what’s your opinion now?

    1. its one of those they’ll justify on technicalities but you wont see again this season. Just like we are still the only team to receive red cards for dissent/kicking the ball away this season.

      1. Angus I agree with you. The referee are testing the rules with only one club, Arsenal. If it’s really because it’s above the ankle, one guy kicked Gabi on the knee. He didn’t receive a red card, MLS was given a red

        1. @Ackshay. Be a good little girl,,, go to your bedroom and cry to your pillow. Obviously you don’t know the new rules. The referee had no choice. Players have to be made accountable for rush of the blood decisions. Obviously your iq is down the bottom of the toilet 🚽

            1. Wow SueP,,, how has the referee cheated. How about the player taking responsibility for his own action. Some people seem to watch the game from their arse(nal)

              1. I think Sue was rather referring to your use of the β€˜little girl’ comment which to say the least was crass, sexist and down right wrong, dare I say, little boy!

                1. @GB. You’re sounding very woke. You need to chill out in the COTTON FIELDS. You may get a decent sun tan

    2. The same
      Officiating in the Prem is terrible , always has been
      I just don’t think it’s an agenda or conspiracy because Arsenal equally benefit from terrible decisions

    1. it wasn’t a high foot, or a studs up challenge. That is some irrational interpretation of serious foul play.

        1. are you arguing that all tactical fouls in that area are reds because if you were city would have been without Rodri for every season they won the league recently.

      1. Nobody’s arguing that Jax, it happens all the time.
        The argument is the red card for a trip, no malice, no studs showing, no injury – meanwhile the complete opposite receives a yellow card.
        Of course, every foul is deliberate, it’s what happens next that counts and it’s all in the rule book that Mr Oliver seems to throw out the window when refereeing The Arsenal.

      2. Of course he didn’t give the referee a choice, as the referee should apply the rule book and a trip is not a sending off offence.
        If it was, we’d end up with abandoned games every week!!

    2. Nobody’s arguing that Jax, it happens all the time.
      The argument is the red card for a trip, no malice, no studs showing, no injury – meanwhile the complete opposite receives a yellow card.
      Of course, every foul is deliberate, it’s what happens next that counts and it’s all in the rule book that Mr Oliver seems to throw out the window when refereeing The Arsenal.

  8. Yellow all day this is a farce, watch Wolves do the same and get only yellow.

    What a joke of a Ref and var.

    There was also no need to him to stick a leg out.

  9. lol! Didn’t I say it I had a feeling we would see a red card in the 1st half?! This ref is dirty af.

    1. Yes, you did. But make sure you thank Oliver if he happens to make a decision/error that gives a throw-in to Arsenal rather than Wolves. πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ

  10. On no planet, in no reality, could that ever have been a red. And VAR checked for all of 10 seconds. Madness.

    1. i would of thought people learnt after no other team got reds for dissent/kicking the ball away that pgmol was corrupt but alas.

      1. last game i forget who kicked the ball away it was injury time and likely wouldn’t of changed the result but they were on a yellow and didnt get sent off

          1. thats is actually the point, show me the reds from other teams because i can now show you double figures of other teams not getting red then talk. It was all oliver on us too both reds and this one

              1. probably missed as is normal, he is the only ref to have sent someone off for kicking the ball away and they were both us this season. God your embarrassing in your desperation to be accepted in certain circles. Have some backbone in your life.

    1. When are people on here going to understand that this is deliberate by the officials. It’s about time this was called out by the pundits and let’s get the cheating out of our game by officials of the club calling out this crap.

      1. English Commentators agreeing with him. It’s very obvious they’ve been told not to challenge the ref’s calls. If anyone thinks thats a red you just dont know football. You dont, and I would never listen to a thing you have to say about the game if you did.

        1. Yes, yes it was. And his antics are brought up on match threads all the time. And it’s a game that should’ve had VAR.

      1. This response doesnt even make sense. This may surprise you, but there are dishonest people in this world who take bribes/ have personal agendas. We literally saw on video this season a ref go on about his hatred for Klopp and Liverpool and some of you still think these refs are honest people.

  11. Only caught a glimpse of it, but that looked an extremely harsh red card, to say the least. They said MLS caught him with the studs?

    1. The first contact was on the ankle, up to referees interpretation to award it or not. It is Michael Oliver, and it is likely he will issue a red card against Arsenal.

      1. I’ll have to watch it again, but on first viewing it looked like a standard professional foul, so I thought he must have been the last man – didn’t look dangerous, but I’ll have to watch it back I guess

  12. Don’t blame the ref for the youngster’s stupidity.He has been good but signs of overconfidence and not recognizing danger were obvious.
    We look out of sync and most players look below their best. This will be tough to pull off.

    1. You know multiple things can be right at the same time, right? We are not good enough but that red card is atrocious to say the least.

    2. You’ve not got a single clue what you’re talking about. Going by your logic, since we aren’t playing well let’s just have the ref make blatantly wrong calls all game. Just send off the entire team since we aren’t playing to the standard you want I guess.

  13. Let’s finally tell ourselves the truth: this Arsenal side is not champions quality. A better team would have buried this game even before the red with the myriad of errors by the Wolves side

  14. I think Michael Oliver simply dislikes Arsenal

    We’d be lucky to get a draw from the game, unless Wolves also get a red card in the second half

    1. Depends how negative our tactics are
      Let’s see if Arteta learnt from Cherries game
      Cant afford to play for a 0-0

      1. It was below his ankle. MLS used the outside of his right boot and made contact with the instep of the Wolves players right foot.

    1. Lmao! Arsenal fans used to sing “60M down the drain, Kai Havertz scores again”.

      A terrible investment is what he has been.

  15. I am relying on Arsenal radio who were horrified by the red card, even after looking back at it several times. They also felt that Oliver was giving Wolves the general rub of the green throughout the half. The commentators said there was no consistency on that front at all.

    That said, obviously not ideal that Havertz missed a very good chance, I believe, but the goalie made a good save.

    MLS, I have noticed, has a tendency to being a bit of a hothead so I hope that he learns from what has happened to him today.

    1. I dont think Lewis Skelly lashed out. It was a tactical foul, but he made contact at the ankle. And when the referee is Mr Oliver, there can only be one decision, against Arsenal.

    1. Ive only seen it once, from one angle, but I just looked like a professional foul, but not dangerous, so yellow – I will have to watch again to confirm.
      But I do want to know who people think are paying Oliver to be corrupt against us – surely it’s not city this year? So is it Liverpool now? I think the idea of refs being paid by other clubs to go against us should be put to bed.
      I also happened to see him book a wolves player seemingly for dissent, which he didn’t have to, so it’s not all one sided.
      That said, if the MLS foul was as I saw it, it’s a ridiculous decision that’s gone against us.

      1. Having watched it back, I don’t think it should have been red but can at least see where it comes from. Studs went down the shin and onto the ankle, but I don’t think it was really dangerous, don’t think it was intended to happen that way, and no one would have really complained if it was given yellow, which tells you something. However, I’ve seen plenty like that given in the past – doesn’t make it right, but it’s not so crazy as many would have you believe imo.

    2. Dude, he didn’t kick. VAR said the first contact was on the ankle to defend the sending off. It is the referee’s discretion to issue a red card. But as history would suggest Mr. Oliver would likely rule against Arsenal.

    3. @Jax. You know what most of these people are like on this site. It’s a straight red card for serious foul play. Some of these CLOWNS obviously don’t keep up with the rules of play. Had it been the other way round, it would be a different story.

      1. show me the examples of this rule being upheld in that manner, you wont have them. same nonsense that was spewed after the rice/trossard reds (both by oliver) and yet we now have double figures of people getting away with the exact same and literally 0 red cards for doing it for anyone else or any other ref

        1. Exactly Angus. Seen lots of those kinds of fouls this season, but this is the first time I’ve seen a red card given.

      2. PJ, it’s NOT serious foul play, it’s a trip and a professional foul.
        I keep up with the rules of the game and see this kind of foul in nearly every other game.
        A serious foul play infringement was the one Kovacic made on Odegaard, coming in from the back, studs up and with no chance of getting the ball… Mr Oliver waved play on!!

        Your the CLOWN if you can’t see the difference, both in the tackle and in the decision making.

    1. It goes down as violent conduct so 3. Three games for a normal tactical foul that we see routinely every week. Arsenal will appeal. And I hope they do way more than that. I never want to see Michael Oliver ref a game for us again.

      1. There is no need appealing.
        Arsenal will lose the case and might get fined for a bonus.

        We know what we are up against.

    2. He will miss three, including city game and the Newcastle second leg.
      The plot thickens, as I do believe he’s registered as a Newcastle fan and I won’t go any further with regards to his Arab affiliations.

  16. Moving the ball well, but no end product. Havertz misses more chances, but some think we don’t need a better finisher at striker.

    Martinelli needs to step it up; has not been terrible, has not hurt the team, but has had no impact.

    Like to see more attacking through the middle, but we have to grind it out and win ugly; Stock City set piece, time wasting ugly

    1. Except Trossard nobody in the front line can run with the ball. Yes, not even Martinelli these days.

    1. Uh Arsenal were already down to 10 because nobody is playing football in the center forward position for Arsenal.

    2. @Dan who claims not to watch this particular game
      Dodges everything regarding the red.
      Claims Arteta is wrong with tacticalities in the said game regarding substitutions.
      Terrible.

    1. Trossard’s the ones I’ve seen with his left because we must have inswing apparently – is he left footed? I thought he favoured his right?

  17. Let’s please remember we are still playing Wolves who are 17th and one of the worst performing teams in the EPL. We should be up three goals before the sending off!!!! We’re just so poor. Liverpool cruising 4 – 0 with decent striking options. Arsenal struggling as usual with a lone striking option in a miss firing Havertz. FACT

            1. Has it changed yours after seeing it and comparing Mr Oliver’s interpretation of the t red card for one and the yellow card for the other.
              That’s what I’m interested in Jax, your opinion now.

              1. You’ll get no. more admissions, cosessions or opinions from me on this Ken.I’ve said all I intend to. on it, which was probably too much in the first place.

  18. Having got away with kicking the ball away on a yellow by the only referee to send off players for kicking the ball way (both against us) oliver finally sends gomes off and no doubt dan will post something saying see he’s not biased

    1. Well if he was biased no it wouldn’t now make sense to give Wolves a red card
      That’s just common sense

      1. lol your a joke mate an absolute joker. He didnt send gomes off for kicking the ball away, your a caricature at this point.

        1. I didn’t say he did ?
          I said if Oliver has a conspiracy against Arsenal why would he show Wolves a red card at all ?
          Just answer that question lol
          Arsenal are 0-0 , down to 10
          And he’s got this agenda to stop us ?
          If true , nothing makes him show a red correct ?

          1. When oliver sent off the arsenal players you said it was letter of the law now when oliver didn’t send of a wolves players its not a thing and not a big deal. do you really want me to dig up your answers to that scenario and make it thing because it wont end well. Dont bury yourself like this because your making it easy.

            Obviously no matter how corrupt oliver is he has to eventually do something if a player should have been sent of twice. You can’t argue technicalities when he ignored the 1st red and the 2nd red was very similar to the straight red (although despite hitting the ankle with the studs var did say it was just a 2nd yellow and not dangerous play straight red so 1 game ban not 3….. interesting)

            1. But Skelly escaped a yellow card for also delaying restarting play

              I just think if like you say he wakes up part of this apparent nation wide conspiracy to hurt Arsenal then at half time he’s being told well done
              You don’t then show Wolves a red card
              So yeah males no sense
              But who cares
              Rather focus on how well our attitude was

  19. And people say refs are not corrupt! Haha!

    Gomes kicks the ball away, on a yellow, and guess what, no yellow!

    Oliver trying to cover his own ass now

      1. Makes perfect sense.

        Oliver probably realized how corrupt he was looking, so evened it out, but still, the bias continues.

        Gomes challenge almost identical to MLS, yet only a yellow? So MLS misses three games and Gomes only the one!

        1. So your evidence that he’s corrupt is when we 0-0 down to 10, heading 8 points behind in the title race he shows a second yellow to ……Wolves
          If he’s part of an agenda I would suggest those higher powers are not happy with him

          1. He proved to be corrupt by not sending Gomes off for kicking the ball away. Did you miss that?

            We have been told very publicly by the powers above that it’s an auto yellow card. It’s not a subjective decision. It’s black and white.

            1. Of course Dan, our red card will see a three match ban, theirs will see a one match ban.
              Lucy78 has explained quite succinctly why Oliver should never be a PL referee – he interpretes the rules to suit himself and doesn’t follow the rule book.
              Not giving the yellow for kicking the ball away – explain why that wasn’t given?

              1. Because he’s a terrible official
                Shame reason why he didn’t book Skelley for kicking a ball away ?
                It proves official are terrible in this country
                It doesn’t proves there is a conspiracy
                Bet you Wolves complain about the same

                1. What your missing Dan, is the fact that Mr Oliver only seems to be “a terrible referee” when it comes to The Arsenal and his interpretation of the rule book.

                  If, as you say, he’s a terrible referee, isn’t that undermining and corrupting the PGMOL… and by them continually backing him up and not disciplining him in any way, taking the corruption to the very heart of their establishment?

                  1. But they all back all officials who are terrible
                    Don’t know what the answer is ?
                    Just saying we equally benefit out of terrible decisions as well

                  2. 2 seasons ago
                    I think it was Liverpool
                    Oliver gives us a dodgy handball for a pen but when Gabriel does same doesn’t give Liverpool a pen

                    That day he didn’t have an agenda I guess ?

            2. Gomes got his FIRST yellow for kicking the ball away and a second for the foul which got him the second. Stop making it up as you go.

  20. From what I am listening to, the Arsenal commentators said that second yellow should have been a straight red. They thought it was worse than the Skelly foul.

      1. Dan, they never said it wasn’t bad enough to warrant a card, but felt it was at least as bad as the Skelly red. He will miss one game and Skelly misses 3

        1. SueP, the Gomes foul was much worse and especially being in the same game as Skelly’s puts the spotlight squarely on Oliver as it should be. These officials are supposed to be highly trained professionals. It’s seems to the point where you can’t watch the PL, even as a neutral, and have a realistic expectation of seeing a well officiated game.

          Why is that the case? Apparently league revenues haven’t yet been hit enough for ownership to find out why. However, to categorically discount the possibilities based on our own opinions and perspectives on events is just not being open minded. Until things change, we just have to hope we don’t get the shaft more than we benefit.

  21. get in thereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    onwards, upwards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  22. You would hope we have more chances now against 10 man Woles. Let’s see what happens? Calafiori scores!!!!

        1. It was given as a second yellow – really it was maybe borderline red. We’ve seen softer ones given (Skelly aside)

        2. No, he first pulled out the red, then the yellow, so I must have missed the first yellow he got. But definitely showed two yellows Sue.

      1. So Jax, can you explain the difference between the straight red given versus the second yellow please?

        1. Easy Ken. The straight red was for a deliberate kick at an opponent. The Yellow was for a foul which was a very bad challenge, but not deliberate. You’ve been a ref, so you shouldn’t need to ask me.

          1. That’s EXACTLY why I’m asking you Jax – if the red was given for serious foul play (which it wasn’t) then, in your words, serious foul play also warrants a straight red card.
            Why wasn’t a yellow card given for kicking the ball away?
            Oliver is a disgrace of a referee, as he doesn’t follow the rule book, he INTERPRETES the rule book…. and he always interpretes it with decisions that go against our club.

            1. I saw Lewis-Skelly delibertly kick an opponent. It wasn’t accidental, he aimed it.I don’t know what the charge is for that, but it deserved redI also saw the Wolves player badly foul our guy, but it wasn’t deliberate (or at least it didn’t look it). and should most likely a straight red, but he got a yellow, lucky him, he only gets one game ban.
              Cards should have been given for kicking the ball away.
              Yes, Oliver was slack in some of his judgements.
              I can’t wait to see a breakdown of these incidents later.

          2. @jax, The official statement was that Skelly foul was deemed dangerous and warrant red card not about intention. The question is between Skelly and Gomes foul which one is more dangerous?

  23. Anyone see the 60 minute interview where the ref admitted to targeting Allen iverson? The ref had a meeting and said they would target this player because he threatened a ref in a game. Check it out.

  24. Rice and Partey have been extraordinary today. But this is normal for Partey, so good stuff from Rice.

    1. Rice is starting to play like he did last season – he’s been below his standards until recently. He’s a quality player – I think it was his cross that eventually landed for calafiori to score.

  25. WHAT DOES ARSENAL NEED HAVERTZ FOR?????? WE HAVE A FREAKING PATHOLOGICAL NARCISSIST FOR A COACH. The team’s success is second to his sick wet dreams.

  26. Job well done, don’t listen to the idiots! I’m going to go celebrate, suggest you do the same. Upwards always! Love.

      1. I just hope Match of the day and the press tomorrow show the picture of when MLS right boot connects with the right boot of the wolves player, and then all the posters saying MLS red card was an above the ankle foul can then admit they were wrong. Failing that they need to book an appointment with their nearest optician ASAP.

        1. Mr PL just couldn’t wait to be the centre of attention once again in a match involving our club HD.
          I think it was RHS who said before the match even kicked off that he expected a red card to be shown and he was spot on.
          We can only hope the club appeal and we hear from the PGMOL that Mr Oliver has been demoted to Hackney Marshes.

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