Premier League: All to Play for at Molineux

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Arsenal

According to my SBOTOP colleague, these two clubs were responsible last summer for signing three of the top five players who have gone onto be unlikely success stories.

And it is true, the trio of Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jose Sa have all fared well in their own way in the first half of the Premier League season.

Yet both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal are going to need more inspiration if they are to meet their presumed aims come the end of the campaign.

So, with only two points separating the sides in the table, and European spots within their reach – not just the Europa League but the Champions League also – it’s easy to see why this Thursday’s clash at Molineux, is so important.

Talking Points

Of course, the very fact the sides are so close in the table speaks highly of Wolves who have quietly impressed under new manager Bruno Lage and resisted the temptation to spend big compared to some of the sides above them.

They have also done without Jonny, Willy Boly, Pedro Neto, Yerson Mosquera and Hwang Hee-chan for spells.

Raul Jimenez, rested at the weekend, should return for this encounter and he will be needed after the club lost another key man last week with Adama Traore heading on loan back to his boyhood club Barcelona.

That means no more of his trademark bursting runs down the right wing – at least until next season – and Wolves did lack a great deal of attacking bite as they crashed out of the FA Cup at home to Norwich at the weekend.

Not that Arsenal have much to shout about in attack either.

Already out of the competition, at the hands of Championship club Nottingham Forest, they struggled for goals last time out with a goalless draw at home to Burnley.

Since then, they have bade farewell to one of their main attacking talents too with their former captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, also heading to Catalonia.

While many will point to the 32 year-old’s limited contributions this term, others will focus on a lack of January activity to negate the loss of Aubameyang, with soon-to-be free agents Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah now Mikel Arteta’s only two central options for the remainder of the season.

Should they fire blanks again, that lack of activity last month will only come under further scrutiny.

On a brighter note for them, both Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are available again after their recent suspensions, affording Arteta more options in midfield.

Mohamed Elneny, however, is unlikely to feature given his recent exploits in the Africa Cup of Nations with finalists Egypt.

Tomiyasu was not spotted during the club’s warm-weather training base in Dubai, although Cedric Soares could come back into the starting XI.

If you’re expecting Premier League highlights though – certainly in terms of goals – you may be disappointed.

Both sides are shot-shy with Wolves’ tally of 19 the third lowest in the top flight, although only champions Manchester City (14) have shipped fewer goals than the Molineux outfit (16) this term which goes some way to explaining why they’re faring so well.

Expect a close contest.

History

Overall, Arsenal have the edge with 58 triumphs to 32 Wolves wins and a further 28 draws.

Yet since being promoted in 2018, Arsenal have often struggled to beat Wolves with just one win in six (a July 2020 success courtesy of goals from Bukayo Saka and Lacazette).

They did the double over the Gunners last term with a 2-1 success in North London, secured by goals from Neto and Daniel Podence before winning by the same scoreline in the Black Country when their deadly Portuguese duo of Ruben Neves (penalty) and Joao Moutinho won the contest – a match in which the Gunners finished with nine men.

Ironic, as until 2019, Wolves had not beaten Arsenal in any competition since 1979.

The very first meeting between the two clubs came in 1904 when Woolwich Arsenal won 2-0 – the scorers that September day were Tim Coleman and Charlie Satterthwaite.

Betting Tip

	Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Arsenal	1X2 Draw @ 3.15
	February 11, 03:45 (GMT+8)

The Premier League betting odds make Arsenal clear favourites.

They are priced 1X2 @ 2.21 and Asian Handicap -0.50, also @ 2.21.

Wolves are a fairly attractive 1X2 @ 3.35, Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.02 and 0.00 @ 2.51.

A repeat of the hosts’ 2-1 triumphs from last season is on offer @ 13.50 with Correct Score, whereas a low scoring affair, total goal 0-1, will pay out @ 2.54. I am going to sit on the fence for this one with a 1X2 Draw @ 3.15 – a *** prediction.

 

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