Wolverhampton Wanderers V Arsenal

Saturday 7^th November – 17:30 GMT

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 16^th

Recent League Form: LLDDD

It’s about the luck of the draw and draws are just about all that Wolves can fashion right now. With just two wins from eleven outings in the league, some maybe under the impression that Wolves have given up hope of making it a hat-trick of wins for the season and are just settling for some creditable points here and there. It’s now three draws on the spin for Wolverhampton Wanderers after their memorable comeback at Stoke City last weekend so they will they stand any chance of ending their draw run as Arsenal come to town?

The simple answer – Yes! But in the form of a defeat. Mick McCarthy just don’t have the required talent at the club to compete with the level of the bigger clubs in the divisions and we expect them to come up short at home to Arsenal this Saturday. However, Wolves could be somewhat of an unknown quantity against Arsenal as this will be their first competitive clash against one of the so called ‘Big Four’ this season, although, they were beaten 1-0 by Man City back in August.

Wolves, at home, have been very poor. Their record at Molineux this season stands at 1-2-2, that sole victory coming against a Fulham side who are hardly world beaters on the road. Their last appearance in front of the home fans wasn’t a too bad showing, a 1-1 draw with locals, Aston Villa. However, their defeats were embarrassing ones as they both came against sides currently in the bottom three in West Ham United (0-2) & Portsmouth (0-1). If they want to survive in such a gruelling and physically demanding league then they need to make Molineux a fortress, a feat they haven’t got anywhere near achieving.

Arsenal

League Position: 3^rd

Recent League Form: WWWDW

There is no stopping the Gunners right now, no matter what competition they end up in. They were clinical at home to Spurs last Saturday, winning 3-0 at The Emirates, while they didn’t have to do any long distance travelling on Wednesday when they smashed AZ Alkmaar 4-0 at The Emirates, a result which basically sees them through to the next round. A draw in either of their two remaining fixtures would see them through so Arsene Wenger can now revert his full attention back to the Premiership, the league where Gunners have been so strong in this season.

Arsenal, in fairness, didn’t start all that well on Saturday against Tottenham. In fact, we would go as far as saying they were pretty sluggish. However, Arsenal were persistent and they certainly got their just rewards with two quick fire goals within the space of 50 seconds. Robin Van Persie grabbed himself a brace, his seventh goals of the seasom, and Man Of The Match, whilst Cesc Fabregas, arguably Arsenal best player this season, scored his fifth of the campaign after a fine solo effort just before the stroke of Half-Time. Like all good sides do, Arsenal didn’t relinquish their stranglehold on the game and ran out comfortable winners, winning 3-0.

That was a big win for Arsenal as not only was it a vital set of three points which kept them firmly in touching distance of Chelsea at the top but it was also their first win over one of the top six sides in the league this season, after previously failing to beat Man City & Man Utd. That was Arsenal’s fifth home win on the spin but they haven’t been the same when on their travels, losing twice, both against Manchester outfits, while they displayed signs of complacency in their very last away outing at West Ham, letting slip a two goal advantages to draw 2-2.

Arsenal were becoming cocky and arrogant in that game at West Ham and were rightly punished. However, although Wolves will create chances, Arsene Wenger’s side shouldn’t encounter too many problems at Molineux. Wenger has no fresh injury concerns to ponder so a full strength is expected to start and roll over Wolves on Saturday as the Arsenal wagon rolls on.

Head-to-Head:

Wolverhampton Wanderers W: 0 Arsenal W: 2 Draws: 0

These two rarely have the pleasure of playing each other in a competitive encounter let alone in the Premiership so the fact that these two have met just twice before in Premiership games doesn’t bring about too many surprised faces. However, back in the 2003/2004 league campaign, Arsenal beat Wolves both home and away to complete a league double of Wolves. The Gunners won 3-0 at Highbury while they recorded a 3-1 victory at Molineux.

Match Verdict: Arsenal to WIN – 1.40 PaddyPower

The Gunners are firing on all cylinders right now and are by far and away the inform sides of the two. Wolves have failed to convert Molineux into a fortress and have struggled to attain points at home this season, just five points from a possible fifth-teen. Arsenal, however, are fresh off a North London derby success and, with the wide array of talent they have on show, should cruise to victory at the expense of a Wolves sides expected to struggle to remain in the division. The likes of Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshvin should be too much for a weak looking Wolves.

Match Odds:

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 9.00 Coral

Draw – 4.80 WilliamHill

Arsenal – 1.40 PaddyPower

 Update: The result of Wolves v Arsenal was 1-4 (goals by Craddock; Zubar (og), Craddock (og), Fabregas, Arshavin)