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Confirmed Arsenal team v Wolves – Saka and Gyokeres start

Wolves host Arsenal with an opportunity to secure three valuable points, yet the Gunners arguably require victory even more, and this is the side Mikel Arteta has chosen to start the game.

Arsenal team v Wolves

A win for Arteta’s side would move them seven points clear of Manchester City, although the Citizens would still have a game in hand. Establishing such an advantage at this stage of the campaign would strengthen Arsenal’s position at the summit. However, there is little margin for error, as any slip-up could quickly shift momentum in a closely contested race.

Arsenal Aware of the Stakes

Arsenal have reached a critical phase of the season where consistency is paramount. Maintaining their lead requires sustained excellence, and in practical terms, that means continuing to collect maximum points. Dropping points against struggling opposition could prove costly in the broader context of the title challenge.

When the sides last met, Wolves were at the bottom of the league table, yet still managed to push Arsenal close to dropping points. The Gunners ultimately secured a 2-1 victory, relying on two own goals to clinch the result. That narrow escape underlined the unpredictable nature of the Premier League and the need for concentration against every opponent.

Wolves Seeking to Disrupt Title Ambitions

Despite their difficulties this season, Wolves demonstrated in the reverse fixture that they are capable of troubling Arsenal. They will be eager to capitalise on home advantage and replicate the resilience they previously displayed.

However, historical precedent favours the visitors. Arsenal have won each of the last ten meetings between the two sides, establishing a clear psychological edge. While the previous encounter may have proved more challenging than expected, such dominance in recent head-to-head clashes suggests the Gunners possess the quality to secure another crucial victory.

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200 Comments

    1. I’m not sure it is 10 position.

      I think media are completely embarrassing themselves saying Saka in number ten role rather than the right 8 role. I watched the game, there was no way Saka was playing 10, he was very deep, deeper than Ode when he’s in the right 8. There is absolutely no way we had changed formation to create a 10 from the usual right 8 last Sunday, and I am dubious we have tonight.

      Yet yesterday Sky ran a big analysis on Saka in the 10, and BBC calling it a 10 in 4-2-3-1 this evening.

        1. We never play a 10. We play left 8 right 8 in front a 6.

          I havn’t a problem Saka playing there {centrally} though he can’t play ahead of Ode who passes and presses far better than Saka can centrally.

          But it’s not an authentic 10 ahead of Rice and Zooby.

      2. 8 or 10, I’m not sure it really matters, he’s in midfield and not hugging the right wing? I just wonder where it leaves Eze who had a good games against Wigan but expect him to make an appearance sometime tonight.

    1. Saka and Madueke, with Timber in support should be a nightmare to defend against, if played properly.

      1. That is very true, 3 players who like to take on defenders. Even if they double up on the right hand side, that should create more space for Gyokeres and Martinelli on the right.

        We looked sharp using that tactic last match, I hope it is a new tweak added in by Arteta. As you stated above, a nightmare for defenders to play against on that right hand side.

  4. Saka in attacking midfield again.

    I hope this turns out to be a masterstroke and we get the 3 points.

    Eze’s confidence might be dented more. Hopefully he gets to come in second half and put in a good performance too.

  6. I also hope for a Saka goal to get his confidence back but I have a feeling Madueke will score. Hes been in good form.

  7. Saka in midfield again? Does that mean Arteta has written off Eze? Wow, £67M down the drain. Must be real good working for a billionaire owner.

    1. I watched the whole game Sunday, Saka did not play authentic 10 then. He was deeper, and to the right. It was the same old left 8 right 8 ahead of a six. In fact Saka hung around deeper in the right 8 than Ode and Eze does.

      An actual 10 role is such a different thing, and such a risky formation and tactical change for Arsenal right now, I’ll only believe it when I see it.

      It’s simply come around due to Ode and Kai injuries, trying to shoehorn two besties in the team together. And wasn’t even first choice plan and line up for last Sunday.

  10. Saka was just running out of options in RW position, his option of cutting inside no longer effective or productive. Maybe the change of position could aid his development into a world class superstar. I hope it works out,

  13. Saka needs to start showing he can play with the team and not just Ode, signs have not been great from him this season. Time to show why he got a new contract

    1. Saka has been a bit too selfish at times; too often he tries to take on 2 defenders rather than pass to the open man. We have a very talented squad, and no need to try and do too much by himself, not when he can bring quality teammates into the attack.

  17. I’ve seen more than enough of this fixture to say Saka is playing exactly the same position as Rice, except to the right half of pitch. Just like a board game the number of squares in from line and squares up pitch they both positioning themselves.

    I’ll shut up now, for if the media fools spuds manager into thinking we really play a 10, that’s in our interest.

      1. Well. Relatively. Finding it extraordinary we are top of the league, despite carrying Gyokeres.

        Is it only me absolutely no contribution from Gyokeres is winding up?

        Also, why are we flipping coasting at 1.0 not killing it off already? We could be down to 10 any moment and it’s a different game. 🤷‍♀️

  18. With you on Gyokeres. Slow, low ball skills, just not PL standard. Will whack the odd solid ball/penalty away.

  19. Wolves players are being such crybabies falling over at every physical challenge that they have ticked tierney off giving them fouls. Given his refereeing history with us that’s a lot to do.

  21. Pretty average performance from us. Very poor movement off the ball when in possession. Again, in the rain, cold and wet, we struggle to perform. Maddy poor.

    1. Totally agree. Need to make some changes. Norgard for Zuby, Eze for Madueke. Martinelli has been frustrating also

  22. Great start and then we attack (if you can call it attack) by numbers. To you to me to you to me. We are playing Wolves, they are shite, put them to bed. Quality poor from midfield and left wing.

    1. I wish I hadn’t said that now. Wolves had a better second half, helped by some really sloppy play from us.

  26. Madueke standard is too low for this team in terms of decisions making. I don’t know why people are not seeing this.

  28. Having Gyorkes on ty field is slowing everything down to suit his lack of skills. This is a game made for Eze and Nwaneri come home. What was our ignorant manager thinking?

  29. Is arteta waiting for wolves to score Madueke and Victor are liability for this team the defence deserves better players upfront

  31. Thank goodness for the goal because once again our midfield is non existent barring Rice, guy is having to do the work of all 3

  33. Think that linesman needs to find a new job, pressured into making a wrong offside call by the opposition. Glad Hincapie got to do his full celebrations still

  35. Let’s face it, we all saw that coming a long time ago. Which is why our second goal was massive..

  38. I must agree adega.

    I feel he is a one trick pony, in desperate need of a footballing brain.

    I am sad to say that Eze has offered very little either.

    I am watching the game against Wolves, where the entire Arsenal team seem bereft of attacking ideas.

    I have read some reports this season saying that Odegaard needs to be replaced.

    My goodness, these reports can only have been written by Spurs fans!!!

    We need Odegaard back as soon as possible, and preferably another player like him.

    Recently we have been bereft of attacking ideas when confronted by the proverbial “{Parked Bus”.

    Get your act together Mikel, or you might just find yourself out of work!!!! at the end of the season.

  39. why not sub in Noorgard to screen the back four? Rice is basically doing two mans job covering for zubemendi

  40. It’s a rare thing this season that Arsenal play a league game and you can feel comfortable and relaxed watching it. Even against Wolves who have nothing to play for you know they will take their foot off and give them a break. Learn to kill the game !

  41. That was worst Gyokeres had played for us.

    I can grow a humuncli in a jar that can play better number 9 than that!

  42. JW. Have you watched Odegaard playing this season? The guy is spent and brings nothing. He literally died in the bum again Brentford. I don’t know Arteta can get the most of the midfielders he has available. Outside of Rice, there isn’t much there which is why I am upset that Nwaneri was locked out of what could have been his breakthrough season.

  44. I don’t know how we are going to win the league like this. Wolves are the worst in the league, nothing to play for, and we are struggling. It’s completely ridiculous

  45. There really isn’t much we’re doing right tbh. Nothing is working going forwards. We’re losing the 50/50’s, losing the ball too often and pretty much cr*p all over the place. Even our midfield looks lost and all over the place.. Unbelievable, seriously Unbelievable. What chance does this Arsenal squad have of winning things playing like this at this stage of the season when the football is just getting worse..

      1. Warn me? I was warned that Arteta can not win the league? or Arsenal can not win the league?. You can not warn me, when I do not think he has the ability. What you was saying was completely different. I was saying City can not win it, we can only lose it. You can not warn me, I have been saying the narrative for 6 years.

  47. We are playing like bunch of drunkards who are playing together for the 1st time. Truly pathetic display for the last 30 min

    1. Absolute crap another awful performance by us against a really 💩team. Tome wasting after 80 mins so many players bottled it, man city massive favourites now and I honestly can’t see anyone who can defend that crap and if you do you are a fool

      1. Are you suggesting I was defending it? Hardly. All I was doing was saying it was a well taken goal by Wolves – which it was.

    1. Arteta just needs to go after this season no matter what he wins, why is Norgard not playing ffs, Eze at this point is a waste of money

  58. We resorted to time wasting we were that cr*p and ended up throwing more points away. What an embarrassment! Title challengers? No way!!

  59. We have waited since Wenger days it has always been our season untill Arsenal fans reject mediocrity….it will be hard for us to win trophies….

  63. Our midfield is truly rubbish barring Rice! The whole game the other 2/3 have done absolutely nothing!

    Raya can clearly see Gabriel is going for the header to clear it, no idea why he comes out

    1. I really do not see what people see in Zubimendi. He is SOOOO weak and likes to pass it back and sides too much. But it has to be said, when the pressure is on, our football breaks down. Thats down to the way Arteta wants them to play. At 2-1 he was gestuto slow it down. It couldn’t have been played slower or more negative, or lack of real intent.

      1. All down to the novices tactics. He wants to micro manage so badly you can see it in how the players play….go up THEN go side and back..1 nil up 1st half he gets yhem to sit back WHEN a real manager tries to seal the result. Has happened in theclost pts games. Get rid of the pr…k now

  64. Don’t think I can stand this anymore, it’s like watching a slow death. Absolutely pathetic against Brentford, absolutely pathetic against Wolves, who I don’t know why they are so happy, they’re going down.

  67. Torpor magnified 200 times.
    Dreadful to think that the league leaders let a 2 goal slip in such a wimpish display against a team going down.

  69. What a disaster!!! As predicted we have been lucky with results for the last 8 games…all down to tactics and poor team selecctions. Madueke and jesus have been poor.
    He just doesnt know how to win trophys on his own and never will. Ex real madrid manager available…get in quick

  70. Some of us get called pessimists when we’re just realists. The signs have been there for months. Can still be a good season and we can get League Cup, see where UCL takes us. But this title race couldve been won in January and it’s been the opposite. Limp performance, after limp performance. All these guys can do is look around at each other because they’re all out of excuses finally.

  71. City will be loving this. One of the worst results ever. So many poor performers tonight. How can you explain the nature of our capitulation once again? Manager has much to answer for..

  72. “ Raya can clearly see Gabriel is going for the header to clear it, no idea why he comes out”

    No I’m not having that. It was the previous 96 minutes of abject performance that dropped the two points.

    2. Defo dropped points but look at their two goals kinda freakish. 1st Salah who is the world best at it from that angle wouldnt score all the time and 2nd took a massive mixup followed by a near miss of a block and then a block and rebound off the post to go in off the player. Still 5 clear.

    3. Moon girl you making up things again, you not having what exactly??

      Never said that was the reason for the loss lol, creating your own little stories

  73. Don’t buy the narratives of the msm the gap at the turn of the year was 2 points to city and villa ever since then they have piled on Arsenal for earning more points than City and Villa. If City beat Palace in their game in hand they will equal our points for 2025 in the league and be 2 behind. City haven’t beaten us in 3 yeats home or away. Stay strong. We are top don’t forget it.

    1. No mate. This bunch of flappers aren’t winning a thing playing this so called “football”.. embarrassing and predictable, unfortunately.

        1. City are gaining momentum endpoints. We’re dropping points against teams we shouldn’t be. Our football so poor..

        2. City has won the league 4 times in the last 5 years so I don’t why you are bringing them into this narrative.

          I’m sure they and their fans won’t have any issue if they don’t not winning it this time around but the same about us.

          1. They also haven’t beaten us home or away for 3 years. Finished behind us last season, are behind us this season and havr performed way worse in the CL so far where we have been the best team comfortably (with the prem taking 5/8 top 8 spots.) They won the league 2 seasons ago last day whilst not beating us once and winning by 2 points, we had 1 less point than the invicibles that year who also would have lost the league by 1 point that year. Last year City were 3 points behind us in 3rd. This year they are 5, 2 if they do win their game in hand behind us. So last 2.5 years City are 6 or 3 point behind us with no wins against us in that time.

            1. Will add the 91 goals scored 2 seasons ago is our record goals scored ever in the league under any manager.

                1. 91-29 team 2 season ago would have won the prem by 10 points invincibles season instead of 11 points. Outscoring Chelsea by 24 and conceding 4 less.

    2. Friend, this is called coping. Prepare for the worst is what I’ll leave you with so these results cannot ruin your day. It’s a shame we can’t even get entertaining football out of all of this. We essentially got a Sunday league quality match that put a big nail in our title charge.

  74. Wolves wanted it more. Don’t blame weather, 4 goals scored, and wolves pushed for 2 late in the match.

    Think we don’t have a mentality problem? Watch that match again.

    An absolute dire wolves team turned things up and we folded like paper. We keep giving oxygen to City rather than bury them.

    Mentality is our biggest obstacle

  77. Arsenal’s title chances are hanging by a whisker now. All because of Arteta’s lack of correct judgement. The people he brought on namely Jesus and Trossard were a total liability. If Gyokeres and Madueke had stayed on this would not have happened. It is now potentiality one point above Man city with tough games to come for us. We could as well say it is advantage Man city!

      1. 10 points out of the last 21 available, last 7 matches we are wobbling.

        Mentality comes into question, fully deserving of the criticism they earned tonight.

        2. But we have more points than 2nd city in that time so why is it us who are ahead that are wobbling and not them who are behind? Don’t mind critising the result and dropped points its the pretending City who have dropped the exact same points since Jan whilst 2 points behind are running us down.

    2. Trossard making a meal of that challenge was the turning point – had he allowed the game to go on we’d probably have won – Regardless we need to go on and win like champions instead of winging it.

      1. I would never in a month of sundays put that defeat down to the Trossard incident. No bearing what so ever.

        1. @Reggie

          Had he not simulated injury we’d not have been subjected to 6min injury time: And had there not been those extra minutes we’d not have a seen a calamity with our defense, right? For me Trossard was the catalyst… watch again (respectfully).

  78. I don’t care anymore, just been stressing up
    about every game, and then we put in a limp performance after limp performance, not going to watch the NLD, can’t be bothered anymore, just go and lose or draw at the spuds, we are that pathetic.

    1. I have been supporting Arsenal for 60 years and you are spot on.Our performances are awful and painful to watch so i can no longer be bothered watching this rubbish any further this season as well

    1. They have 3 less points than us in 2025 and 2 less in 2024. Not sure why they are the measure. Haven’t beaten us themselves in 3 years either hime or away.

    1. What more points than City in both 2024 and 2025. Top of CL. Carabao cup final. 5th Fa cup against Mansfield. Only team to take points off Bayern in the CL. Where is it bad?

      1. Open your eyes, smell the coffee and take those rose tinted specs off. The way we play is not robust under pressure. IF you can not see that, you are living in cuckoo land. OH and You say the same things this time of year EVERY season. WHAT HAVE WE WON?

        2. Bayern were the best team in Europe according to everyone and we played them of fthe park in the CL to go 8/8, Bayern came 2nd with 7/8. You are delusional if you think the team has performed badly this season when 5 clear in the prem (2 clear still if City beat palace), top of the cl, in the carabao cup final and in the 5th round of the fa cup. All means critisce points lost but pretending we are awful when outperforming the entire prem and the cl so far is utterly ludicrous.

            1. Thats end of season, as of now we have out performed both the prem and the cl this season and you are whining instead of being excited. Says a lot. If City end up outperforming us in the ru n in which they haven’t done even since Jan then yeah complain about Arteta and what he has won just dont do it when we’ve got the most points in the league and a perfect CL record its weird.

              1. Like you are willing it to happen so you can be right instead of being happy we are currently favs for both the prem and the cl

                  1. We are literally the best team in Europe and the prem so far this season and you are asking what we have won? Obviously that question had the same answer at the start of the season. We can only go off currently where we have outperformed everybody so far. Like I said if City end up outperforming us and winning the league then you have a point. Crying about City whilst they drop more points than us is insane.

                    2. How does are previous winning record form other seasons effect the fact we have been the best team this year in all comps and we are near the end of feb? By your logic we can never win the cl ever because we have never won it before. What a weird mentality.

                    4. Didn’t say we were winning the cl guaranteed we are quite rightly the favourites currently. What i said accurately is we have been the best team in the cl. Most scored, most from open play, least conceded and beat 7/8 2nd place Bayern. Pretending that is bad is the weirdest behaviour I have ever seen.

    2. @Reggie
      It’s happened too many times in the same fashion. We run ourselves ragged in the first half, while opposition just sits back and absorbs it all. Then, in the second half, they puor on the pressure and we start flopping around, losing composure and trying to make up ground. We still can’t handle the pressure. I sure hope we cop on soon…

    1. There’s just too many issues in this team for that to make an actual difference. The quality of the front 3 is non-existent. Arteta is so obsessed with defender recruitment he totally neglects the attack and of course the one time we do buy a forward its the quality of Gyokeres who doesnt have the footballing ability to play in this league

      1. Yet top open play goalscorers in the CL. 4 past Atletico, 3 past Bayern who only dropped points to us in 2 d, 3 past Inter who had only conceeded 2 total in the CL prior to that. Top of the prem with 2 more points than City 2024 and 3 more currently 2025. Horrible result but reality differs from a lot of opinions on here.

      2. Still could’ve done with him, our midfield was non existent- they could just run right through. Don’t know what was up with Trossard, even before the knock, hhe looked like he’d been out on the lash.

  82. Since you keep harking to history..we were 8 clear still lost. Its not the pts ahead buddy, they only count at the finish. City wins all their games and the way we have been going ….which is actually earlier than prev seados…and we’re done

      1. Bottle jobs 🙂
        Spineless. Pathetic. Useless.
        I want City to win this.
        It’s all very well having the so called best squad but when you have someone who fails at everything he does. Who lacks the self belief to lead others then you are lost. It’s over for another season. Bottlers…

        1. How are we outperforming the entirety of Europe currently then? Even since Jan City need to win their game in hand to equal us in 2025 and be 2 points behind.

          1. What matters is what happens in May and we all know what will happen in May don’t we ?
            BOTTLERS !!!!!

            1. If we do bottle it fair enough you’ll be right, at least wait for a point in the season where city actually outperform us because it hasn’t happened yet, City need to beat Palace in their game in hand just to level us for 2025 and be 2 points behind whilst being way worse in the CL and having not beaten us home or away in 3 years.

  83. Bottle jobs 🍾
    Spineless
    Boring
    Lazy
    Good at talking.
    Dull as piss on the field.
    I just want us to blow it all and we can be done with this season and the false hope and the nearly manager can **** off and we can hopefully bring someone in who CAN achieve something. I hate Arteta’s football it’s so negative and tedious…

    1. No desire to win! I know no game is a given, but that was embarrassing. It’s the same every bloody year

    2. Sadly…like latter wenger..as long as we are in CL, they wont be sacked
      I dont mind dull football IF we get the result but of late, dull football and poor results…perfect storm to switch to watch thugby union.
      After 6 years, even a poor manager knows how to close off a game but seems ours is worse than a novice

  84. Remember this:
    Arsenal lose the League cup final to City
    Arsenal pipped to the title by City
    Arsenal lose quart final of champions league to City
    Arsenal getting knocked out of the FA cup semi by City

    Just imagine that scenario
    Arteta Out
    Enrique or Conte in

  85. Again the midfield was pathetic. I wonder why Arteta never use Nørgaard in these circumstances.Once again EPL title is losing. This year we have had everything. But Arteta’s tactics destroyed every hope.

      1. No one is celebrating that result but apparently you are as you want us to lose everything from here on in, call yourself a supporter! We might well be crap at present but that doesn’t mean you have to talk it as well.

      2. Nah, I’m here to stay !! My 1st season of going to The Arsenal was a relegation fight. While I’m not happy with the result tonight, I’ll rather be fighting for the title than battling against relegation.

  87. Upon winning – yes hopefully we still will. I would like to show the exit door to L. Trossard, Seriously.

  88. Paying travelling fans should be reimbursed money for that crap. Should be an enquiry by the owners into another season end capitulation.. Arsenal capitulate in style once again.

  89. Like I said earlier, when it’s getting to 2-3 months to season ending Arsenal will start drawing and loosing matches. The funniest part is Arsenal will be loosing matches to teams that they can easily win. Believe me we will all remember today’s match loosing 2 points. If man city wins the league, then it will be wolf 🐺 match that makes us to lose the league. Same story.

  90. How can a coach set up his team to play like this when you know what is at stake. Especially when you dropped two points last match from winning position.

    Arteta has neither of the two attributes , luck and greatness, any coach needs to be a winner. It is high time he left. It’s been 6 years and over 30 players given to him without trophies and money from players sales to show for it. In addition, good players are regressing under him.

  91. Again poor tactics and subs. Possesion when we need to attack but long balls when we need possession. Long balls to jesus and expect him to hold up play?? Jesus on when our midfield had been leaking?
    Raya had been too much of ramsdale lately..over confidant… and other teams will now realise he is a liability at shots taken from distance

  92. I could not believe what I was watching. After the first goal we eased off, when we got the second, we already had our slippers on, and by the end of the game most of our team had already gone to bed. 70,000 stadium? You won’t fill a thimble with a pathetic performance like that.

  93. City need to do this for Pep. Arteta has given him the key to the league and let’s hope that Saka and his boys just cave in once again and give him the trophy.
    I can live with the mocking and insults because to be honest it’s not an insult when the insults are true is it?
    Arsenal do not have any mental strength whatsoever and the secret to winning is having the strength to do it. Arteta is not good enough. I’m done with it..

  94. Arsenal fans ability to interlise social/msm narratives that dont actually add up and spout them as truth never ceases to amaze me (top 4 trophy/suarez bid spring to mind from old.) Look up Man City and Villa results since Jan and compare.

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