Arsenal at Wolves match thread: tough test

Today’s Arsenal-Wolverhampton Wanderers match is a big one. With Manchester United looking likely to win, both the Gunners and Wolves will need three points to keep pace. Wolves came into today level with United on 52 points. Arsenal are six points adrift. Going nine points back with just five to play would basically extinguish any faint hope the Gunners still have of making the Champions League. And on the subject of more realistic things, every point is critical; the race for the Europa League places is a tight one.

These two sides drew at the Emirates in early November, but given the way the season has played out, I’m not sure I’d put any stock in that. What I do know is that Wolves are a very good team that have looked sharp and haven’t conceded a goal since the return to play. Arsenal have looked better and are moving in the right direction. Today will give us a much better idea of where things stand in Mikel Arteta’s squad transformation. I’d be quite pleased with a draw.

Lucas Torreria is fit and available for selection for Arsenal. I doubt the Uruguayan will start, but he may come off the substitutes’ bench. That leaves Mesut Özil (back soreness) as the only short-term injury. I also doubt Matteo Guendouzi (coach’s decision) will make the matchday squad given Mikel Arteta’s recent comments about the attitude and mentality he wants to see from his side and his suggestion that some people might not be getting the memo. Yeah. He didn’t make the matchday squad.

Wolves are fully fit. The expectation is that Adama Traore will start — he’s been coming off the bench thus far in Project Restart.

Arsenal - Martinez, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac, Soares, Ceballos, Xhaka, Tierney, Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang

Wolves - Rui Patricio, Saiss, Coady, Boly, Otto, Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Raul Adama Traore

WHAT: Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
WHERE: Molineux Stadium
WHEN: 9:30 AM PST | 12:30 PM ET | 5:30 PM BT
US TV: NBCSN. Stream here.

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