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Arsenal vs Wolves preview | Confirmed team news, Ozil to start + prediction

By on November 2, 2019

mesut ozil arsenal 2018

Arsenal need to put a turbulent week behind them and get back to winning ways when we take on Wolves at the Emirates this afternoon.

Even by Arsenal’s standards it’s been a week to forget as we blew a two-goal lead and had a late winner ruled out for no apparent reason against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Club captain Granit Xhaka also had an ugly bust-up with the supporters while being substituted in the second half. He issued a heart-hearted apology on Thursday but Unai Emery has confirmed the midfielder won’t be involved today, and I think it’s the right decision.

Wednesday night then saw us throw away a two-goal lead TWICE before conceding a 94th minute equaliser to draw 5-5 with Liverpool in a ridiculous game at Anfield. We then lost the penalty shoot-out to crash out of the Carabao Cup so it’s certainly been a nightmare week for Arsenal.

Emery will need to pick the players up quickly as we have a tough game against Wolves this afternoon but we desperately need a win as last weekend’s draw has left Arsenal sitting four points adrift of the top four.

Team news

Arsenal have virtually a full strength squad to choose from as Reiss Nelson is the only absentee, as confirmed on Arsenal.com. The winger is still recovering from a knee ligament injury that’s kept him out for the last month.

It looks like Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Sead Kolasinac and Joe Willock are all in contention despite picking up knocks against Liverpool but I doubt any will start as Emery is set to recall his big guns.

Bernd Leno, Sokratis, David Luiz, Kieran Tierney, Matteo Guendouzi, Nicolas Pepe, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all expected to be recalled while Mesut Ozil should keep his place after putting in an excellent performance on Wednesday night.

As I’ve already mentioned, Xhaka won’t be involved following his bust-up with the fans last week and it remains to be seen whether he’ll keep the captains armband.

As for Wolves, they are without Willy Boly due to a shin injury and Ryan Bennett is out with a groin complain. Morgan Gibbs-White could miss the game with a back complaint but several other first team regulars are due a recall after being rested in midweek.

Line-ups

football formations

Wolves XI: Patricio, Jonny, Saiss, Coady, Doherty, Traore, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Jota, Jimenez

Prediction

Arsenal simply have to get back to winning ways today or the pressure is really going to mount on Emery. The fans are turning in huge numbers with the majority now feeling like he isn’t the right man to take us forward. The only way to change our mind is to win games and anything other than three points this afternoon will strengthen calls for Emery to go.

The worry is, Arsenal have a poor recent record against Wolves as we’ve won just one of our last four league meetings and we lost the last game against them 3-1 in April so we shouldn’t underestimate the task at hand. However, if Emery picks the side above then I’m confident we’ll win. There is no excuse not to name our best line-up and that should include Bellerin, Tierney and Ozil. I’m backing the boys to win 3-1 today.

Arsenal 3-1 Wolves