Arsenal are set to make the trip to the West Midlands to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers this evening, but will do so without some key players.
Our team is already without long-term absentees Calum Chambers, Gabriel Martinelli and Pablo Mari, who are not expected to feature again this season.
On top of that, we have lost shot-stopper Bernd Leno, who landed awkwardly against Brighton the other week, who is expected to return to full training near the end of the current campaign.
We are set to welcome Lucas Torreira back to the first-team squad following injury however, with the Uruguayan international having previously been ruled out for the season, only for the Coronavirus pandemic to have delayed the campaign.
Mesut Ozil’s fitness is to be assessed, but Mikel Arteta has so far refused to permit the German a single minute of action since the restart, so even if fit, remains unlikely to start.
Wolves are believed to have a full squad to choose from today, and having played twice less since the restart, may well give them a slight edge.
Predicted XI:
Martinez
Mustafi Luiz Holding
Soares Xhaka Ceballos Saka
Pepe Nketiah Aubameyang
I expect the back five to be in effect once again today, and can see both Bellerin and Tierney rested after featuring heavily since the restart. Judging by Cedric’s return in midweek, he looks ready to start, while Saka in the wing-back role is a delight to watch.
I nearly opted to give Mustafi a break, with either Sokratis in at RCB, or have Holding on the right with Tierney filling in at LCB, but I personally think the above is the most likely.
Should Torreira slot straight into the team now back fit? Who do you think should start ahead of my selections?
Patrick
I would imagine the pace of Kola or Tierney would be preferred at LCB to counter the threat of Traore. Otherwise, that looks spot on. That said, Arteta has shown himself to throw a few tactical surprises to unbalance opposition plans so it could be anything.
Torreira should start. He gives us a more control in midfield which will be needed here. Pity he’s not as pass savvy as Ceballos.
I know our team and games we win and games we lose. We lose this one comfortably. I say comfortably because we never seem interested to make it hard for our opposition to score. It was same under Wenger, same under Unay and Arteta seems to follow tradition.
What a fan u are…dont talk about realism, that’s pesimism…hope we win today, for the club, for the fans and for you to come back your hole…we dont need you here, or un the emirates, or nowhere near afc
Truth is truth. At the moment Wolves is better team. Fans like you who are living in fantasy land are the ones bringing this club down. Along with the clowns in management.
Good line up but where is pepe
The game today is difficult but not impossible , the wolves are coming strong since the opening of the new premier…………. in Auba we trust