Arsenal v Wolves Preview [LIVE]

Date: Saturday 2nd November
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Kick off time: 15.00

On Saturday Wolves travel to London to take on Arsenal.

Wolves will be without key defender Willy Boly who underwent surgery on Tuesday for a fractured tibula. The good news though is that fellow centre back Ryan Bennett is fit again after a groin strain kept him out for 2 games.

Wolves are unbeaten in 5 games in the league (W2, D3) but go into this game on the back of a Carabao Cup defeat at Villa Park on Wednesday when Nuno Espirito Santo made the decision to field a youth side. Only 2 senior squad players took part in the game, keeper John Ruddy and defender Ryan Bennett but despite this the Wolf cubs only went out with a narrow 2-1 defeat.

The Gunners were also in Carabao Cup action on Wednesday losing 5-4 on penalties to Liverpool at Anfield with the game finishing all square at 5-5 after normal time. Both teams gave chances to young players but unlike Wolves both teams were interspersed with experienced fringe players.

Will we see Mesut Ozil on the field? The midfielder has made just one Premier League start this season but no-one seems to know why. He played the first 65 minutes of Wednesday’s match and was involved in 2 of the 5 goals. Whether this will persuade Unai Emery to give him a game on Saturday is anyone’s guess.

Will we see club captain Granit Xhaka? After his petulance when leaving the field during the game against Crystal Palace last Sunday with the boos of his own fans ringing in his ears, is it possible that Unai Emery will drop him for this game?
How long will the Emery survive the toxic atmosphere at the Emirates when things don’t go the way of the home team? Another question with no definitive answer.

The Gunners are 6th in the league with 16 points from a possible 30 whilst Wolves are 12th with 4 points less.
Despite the sometimes poisonous atmosphere at the Emirates, 11 of Arsenal’s 16 points have come from home games with 3 wins and 2 draws.

All is not well at Arsenal, the fans know it, the manager knows it and no doubt the owner Josh Kroenke knows it. The most worrying thing for Unai Emery though is that Chris Wilder and Roy Hodgson, it would appear, had recognised a weakness and exploited it. Will Nuno Espirito Santo do the same? I think he will and Wolves will go home with at least a point from this game.

Gem’s prediction 2-2