Arsenal continue their endeavour for a top-six finish with a trip to the Molineux Stadium this afternoon, to face fellow European hopefuls Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Premier League clash.
These two teams come into this match on the back of three-straight victories; though it should be noted, in somewhat friendly fixtures for both sides.
Good day one and all.
Following a pair of disappointing results that have left Arsenal a bit sombre, they have bounced back and are on a decent run that have put them firmly in the dogfight for European spots as the season enters it’s closing stages.
However, Mikel Arteta will be aware that our upcoming four fixtures against Wolves, Leicester City, Spurs and Liverpool will not only be more challenging, but also that we cannot afford to drop too many points if we are to break into the top-six.
Meanwhile, Wolves have kept a clean sheet in each of their three games post-lockdown, and have shown no signs of complacency in pursuit of Champions League football. They’re currently just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the league table.
No doubt this will be the more trickier game for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side since the restart, be that as it may, they are yet to lose to the Gunners in three meetings following their return to the top-flight (W1, D2). When we made the trip to the Molineux last season they beat us 3-1, which they will remember fondly.
Team news
With Arsenal playing their third game in seven days and the fixture schedule not slowing down soon… Mikel could change few things up.
Maybe not in the middle of the park though as Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos, who have formed a laudable partnership, look nailed on with Matteo Guendouzi’s ongoing absence due to disciplinary concerns. That said, should the coach need to freshen things up Ainsley Maitland-Niles is an option with Lucas Torreira, who is back fit, likely to make the bench.
Cédric Soares scored within minutes after being brought on for his debut against Norwich and, with Hector Bellerín due a rest sooner or later, could be in line for his first start.
Prediction
This promises to be a fascinating tie with both sides on a good run as well as competing for a spot in Europe next season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is leading the race for the PL’s golden boot with 19 goals, but also no PL player has scored more goals across all competitions than Raul Jimenez’s 24. Therefore, this could be a game to be won by the defence of either side.
Difficult to call, but one thing we can expect is that both teams will leave their hearts out on the pitch. COYG!
— Labo
Positively Arsenal 
I’m here. Lol. If Arsenal beat Wolves we wlll cut their lead to three points and then it will be a foot race for European spots in the run-in.
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A big test for us today, I’m more hopeful than confident.
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Arteta on Ozil “There is always a place for a player of his quality,”
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Thaks Labo. Who is the ref today?
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Some had a lot to say about our 4-0 win over Norwich, relegation fodder and whatnot. Wolves’ last two games was against relegation candidates Bournemouth and Aston Villa and they beat both by 1-0 score lines.
Could mean very little but also Wolves will know today will be a test of their credentials as genuine Champion League spot chasers.
They could just sit deep and try hit us on the counter.
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FH: Michael Olivier is the ref with Paul Tierney on VAR
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michael oliver is the ref today
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Michael Oliver…..great…..after two lesser known refs who I thought did well, but business returns as usual with the PGMOL with Atkinson for Leicester and dean for the spuds. This is going to be a tough game, up against the super agented super Funded midlanders, who are much further into their project than Arteta.
Hopefully, Aubas eye for goals will pay dividends in this one.Would be good to see Lacca back on the scoresheet as well
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Can’t see Hector being rested as he had his break during the Cup game. This is a very important game so I think Mikel will only rotate up front unless he changes shape completely and packs the midfield. Mustafi came off early in the last game so contrary to my last statement maybe Rob will come in.
It difficult to pick the hardest game from a fixture list because you never know the mindset of the team your facing but we’ve always had this down as a dangerous game and current circumstances have only accentuated that.
Although we really need the three points a draw might keep the momentum going. Like George I’m not overly confident of a win however I can see chinks in their armour and maybe we can expose those today, anyway here’s to a good performance that leads to a great result COYG.
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Pepe injured?
Adama opposite Kolasinac and Luiz will be interesting.
Saka & Auba starting, will they swap sides at times?
COYG
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Martinez, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac, Soares, Ceballos, Xhaka, Tierney, Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang.
Subs: Macey, Bellerin, Sokratis, Lacazette, Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Nelson, Willock
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seems Pepe misses the game because his wife has gone into labour and he is attending the birth
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it seems Nketiah is firmly ahead of Lacazette in Arteta’s pecking order. With two years left on his contract Lacca may be the big money departure this summer, he and Guendouzi being sold should top up whatever transfer funds the club has
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not a high quality game so far
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nktiah goes oh so close with a good shot, keeper pushes it onto the post
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sakaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 1-0
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a fine half volley from saka after cedric put in a cross to PEA who helped it on to Tierney whose cross was deflected by the hand of a wolves defender to Saka to left foot finish it. Come on you gooners
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What a corker from Sako!!!
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What a corker from Sako!!!
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HT: Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
Saka with a fine finish, in what has been a dull enough game. Nketiah came close to scoring with their keeper making a fine save off the post.
Our play has been too slow, and there has been a hell of a lot of backways and sideways passing form us today.
I don’t want to worry you but Michael Oliver has awarded seven penalties against Arsenal in the last 12 Premier League games he has officiated us in
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Yeah… So far so good… doing the bees knees
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Pat Rice’s left peg
@_Deaghn
·
7m
Saka is the youngest Arsenal player to score away in the League since Stewart Robson in 1983.
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A point from this would be great so so far so good. Yes – it is all very slow and you can’t see anyone on the bench to inject much in the way of creativity, but we are doing ok so far. Wahtever the resut from here I can see the progress – and love these homegrowns we’ve got.
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forever I’m not sure one point is enough for us from this, we really need to take the 3 to keep pressure on teams above and below us
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56 minutes and we make our first change, AMN on for Tierney
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michael oliver being michael oliver, that was a clear foul on Nketiah, in fact should have been a booking
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This ref will turn the screw if he can
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M Oliver is one of those PGMOL refs… so not too surprised as to how bad he has been!
Arsenal need that second… So far so good
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Referee has changed to a wolves player in the second half.
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we are really penned back in our own half, need to get that second goal to relax
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76 minutes we have brought on Bellerin and Willock for Cedric and Saka
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Nketiah heads over from a Ceballos freekick
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AMN fouled ignored by Oliver, then when he fouls back he is booked, PGMOL’s finest
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San™
@VintageArsanal
· 3h
United have had 17 penalties this season, seventeen which is what Arsenal have had in past five seasons.
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kolasinac having a very poor day with his passing, just keeps giving it away
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Paul Tierney is on VAR, it seems he can see nothing that Oliver has missed
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Saiss should have seen a second yellow for the push on Nketiah.
Oliver giving them everything. Cunt.
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83 minutes we bring on Lacazette and Torreira for Nketiah and Ceballos
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Lacazetteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 2-0
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A beauty from Lacazette…
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long ball by wolves is headed up in the air by david luiz around the half way line, Mustafi heads it on to Lacazette who lays it off to Willock who goes wide and dribbles down the side of the area, his cross is brilliantly controlled by Lacazette who turns his man and fires in a great goal, Come on you Gooners
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Wolves outplayed the Gunners under Emery
Instead of taking the Gunners down to below the opponents level under Arteta today Wolves were brought down to the Gunners’ level.
Two goal. Clean sheet away victory against the team with the best away record in the league since the restart only one goal against so far. Supreme result. Not much in the way of creativity out there but this is still the best performance against wolves in about 18 months. No prizes for guessing why.
Willock should’ve made it three!
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Super sub…that is how you do it… despite the M. Oliver’s of the world!
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This was a good performance
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fucks sake Oliver how is that a booking for Xhaka, oh thats right its Xhaka
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Nervy second half, for a while, but sublime timing for the goals, as Arsenal rope-a-doped the opponent and the PGMOL. Oliver tried to tilt the game, but was reduced to lashing out pathetic yellows on our players in frustration.
A good week for the Non Negotiable’s.
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FT: Wolves 0-2 Arsenal
Saka and Lacazette both with outstanding goals give us a deserved win, it was boring as fuck in the first half for the most part, and we were very defensive in the second half before making it secure.
Now up to 7th just the 3pts behind spurs. five games left in the EPL, home to leicester, away to spurs, home to liverpool, away to aston villa and home to watford. we also have man city in the fac semi final
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Well that was enjoyable
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Fantastic, despite Mr Oliver’s best endeavours. Great game from our keeper too, although the defence meant they ddin’t have too many shots on target.
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Yessss, very professional from Arteta’s boys.
By the way, that is 4 away games since the restart.
Odd.
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