MIKEL ARTETA and his Arsenal side will be well aware that every game is a cup final from here on out.
The Gunners crashed out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich on Wednesday and now face a run of six games to try and prevent a second season with no silverware to show for their efforts.
The Bayern Munich defeat was the insult on top of the injury from last weekend when Aston Villa put a dent in Arsenal’s title hopes with a 2-0 win at the Emirates.
Now it’s Gary O’Neil’s mid-table Wolves side that stand in Arsenal‘s way as they look to bounce back from their gut-wrenching week of results.
Arsenal fans, and perhaps players, will be confident they can get a result against Wolves and buoyed by the fact they have scored twelve goals in their last five matches against the club – only shipping two in that time.
But they will also be acutely aware of the “April Curse” that has hit them in the last two seasons where they have struggled to bounce back from a run of poor form in the month of April.
Arteta won’t be thinking about curses, he’ll be thinking about closing the two-point gap between his side and league leaders Man City.
Two points is normally an encouragingly small distance but up against a well oiled Pep Guardiola machine – now also without the distraction of European football – two points can feel insurmountable.
A trip to Molineux may feel like one of Arsenal’s best opportunities for three points with tough fixtures against Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United to follow soon after.
But this isn’t a Wolves side that will roll over when the big boys are in town and Arteta and Co must be aware of the team that Gary O’Neil has built in the midlands.
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Despite a patchy run of recent form and lack of motivation to play for league places given their mid-table obscurity, Wolves will still be well up for this game.
Football fans want to spoil the party for their opposition, regardless of rivalries, and Wolves will want to end what has been an impressive season on a high while looking to get one over on the Gunners for the first time since 2021.
Arsenal had not lost a game in the entirety of 2024 until last weekend, now they have lost two in a row.
The Gunners are win-less in their last three games in all competitions and have seen their spot at the summit of the Premier League snatched away by Man City as a result.
Wolves have also struggled recently and after a great start to the year are now failing to pick up many points at all.
Gary O’Neil’s side have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions and even fell to a 3-2 FA Cup defeat against Coventry in that time.
Wolves will be hoping for the return of Rayan Ait-Nouri to boost their side’s chances, but are confirmed to be without Nelson Semedo.
Pedro Neto (Thigh), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Knee) and Craig Dawson (Groin/Hip/Pelvic) are all confirmed to be out for O’Neil’s side too.
While Matheus Cunha is also going to be missing in a huge blow to him and Wolves having just returned from a long term injury that he suffered in February.
Arsenal meanwhile are staring at a fully fit, albeit tired, squad to select from heading into the trip.
One boost has been the return to full training of summer signing Jurrien Timber who suffered an ACL injury on the first day of the season.
Although Mikel Arteta has suggested Timber will be missing from action until her can get some minutes with the U21 squad under his belt first.
Bukayo Saka struggled to make an impact in Germany on Wednesday and looks like an overworked player who is grimacing through injuries.
You’d be a fool to write him off with his almost inevitable goal contribution that occurs in nearly every game, but he may still be suffering from an intense match in Munich.
With Wolves likely to play a low block against the Gunners it’s captain Martin Odegaard that could be the key to unlocking their defence with his moments of magic and eye for a pass.
Gary O’Neil has claimed in his press conference that he only has “10 senior outfield players to pick from that can start” on Saturday.
And although he added that it’s “probably the worst situation” his side have been in, there’s still a few players who could make a difference.
Pablo Sarabia has been the man to turn to for attacking output during this injury plagued period for Wolves in recent months.
As they will likely look to sit back against Arsenal, Sarabia can offer both another body defensively and an attacking threat on the counter.
Mikel Arteta has stressed the importance of three points to his side.
Arsenal would reclaim their spot on top of the tree with a win as Manchester City avoid the Premier League this weekend with their attention on the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
Speaking in his press conference Arteta said: “The context is clear. If we win, we are top of the league.
“If you need anything else to be motivated and if you need anything else to keep your mind clear you have a problem.”
Gary O’Neil has lauded Mikel Arteta and the work he has done in North London, but pointed towards Arsenal’s busy schedule as a weakness.
He said: “Mikel is doing an incredible job. It will be a tough test for us.
“They have a lot of games coming up, so it’s a busy week for them as well, and we’ll have a right go.”
Arsenal have crumbled in April for the last two years in a row and you could be forgiven for expecting that to happen again.
But this Arsenal side still has a different feel about it, they’re a year older and a year more experienced.
Up against a Wolves side stripped bare from injuries and struggling for form anyway, Arsenal should wind up comfortable winners as they look to bounce back with a bang.
Wolves 0-3 Arsenal
*Odds courtesy of Paddy Power are correct at time of publication
