English Premier League preview: Arsenal versus Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arsenal
After submitting to their tendency to fall apart in crucial matches in their last Premier League encounter, Arsenal prepares to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates stadium on Saturday.
Gunners drew last weekend after taking a four goal lead against Newcastle United but Wenger will be hoping that his men will be able to step up against Wolverhampton.
Arsenal are currently 2nd in the English Premier League table and as Manchester United host Manchester City on the weekend, they have a fantastic chance to close the gap on the league leaders.
However, before their draw against Mick McCarthy’s Wolverhampton, Arsenal won their Premier League tie against Everton by two goals to one. Their form going into the weekend’s matchup is quite promising as the Gunners are unbeaten in their last eight competitive
fixtures. In doing so, they have scored 20 goals and conceded only 7 goals, 4 out of which came in their last league match against Newcastle United.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
After ending Manchester United’s unbeaten run in their last league tie on the previous Premier League weekend, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wolves-c40952 are on an all time high at the moment.
The current English Premier League season has not been a kind one for Mick McCarthy’s outfit as they find themselves involved in a tough relegation battle. All three points against Arsenal can truly allow them to rise above the relegation mire in place at
the bottom of the Premier League table but such a feat can be easier said than done.
Wolves have only won three out of their last eight competitive fixtures. Those three wins came against Manchester United, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rovers-c40385. As the tie at the Emirates stadium nears its due date, Wolves will be banking on their main striker, Kevin
Doyle, to once again wreak havoc in Arsenal’s back line.
All the odds are stacked up against Wolves at the moment as they have not scored even a single win against Arsene Wenger’s boys in their last eight meetings.
Presently, 19th in the English Premier League table, Wolves have only gathered 24 points from a total of 25 matches in the 2010-2011 season.
Team news
Arsenal will welcome back http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robin-van-Persie-c31380 from a flu infection on the weekend as the Dutchman was excused from international duty with Holland in mid-week. Cesc Fabregas will also be fit for the tie after missing out for Spain’s mid-week friendly against
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Colombia-c2873 due to a stomach bug.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thomas-Vermaelen-c35002 is still out with a long term injury so it is expected that Koscielny and Djourou
will start for the Gunners at the back.
Expected Arsenal line-up: Wojciech Scezney, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Fabregas, Rosicky, Jack Wilshire, Bendtner, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Theo-Walcott-c34873, Chamakh
Wolverhampton’s star striker Kevin Doyle will be fit for the match. Karl Henry, their team captain will go through a late fitness test but it is thought that he will play in the match with the Gunners. Additionally, Joey Craddock is also scheduled to go
through a late fitness test on Friday night as he suffered a minor hamstring strain versus Manchester United.
Expected Wolves line-up: Hennessey, Zubar, Joey Craddock, Berra, Elokobi, Matt Jarvis, Karl Henry, Milijas, Hammill, Jamie O’Hara, Kevin Doyle.
Key players
For Arsenal, the man to watch out for will be Wolverhampton’s striker http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kevin-Doyle-c20719. A defensive forward if there ever was one, Doyle is adept at getting the best out of his team mates. He is not a scorer of spectacular goals but he is renowned for hurrying
opposition’s defenders into mistakes.
For Wolves, Cesc Fabregas will be the man to track. His contribution to as the string puller of Arsenal’s midfield is a sight to behold and thus their ambitions to get any sort of a result from their tie against the Gunners rest on Fabregas having an off-day.
Prediction
Although Arsenal have faltered against lesser oppositions in the past, this one is an easy one to call as the Gunners will be looking to put some pressure on Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table. Predicted outcome: 3-1 to Arsenal.
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