MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
@Wilsonfooty: Unai Emery had two major selection dilemmas ahead of the visit of Wolves. He has answered one of them already, opting not to expose Granit Xhaka to Arsenal’s fans following the captain’s tantrum last weekend. Secondly, should he include Mesut Ozil after his delightful display in Wednesday’s extraordinary League Cup game at Anfield?
Wolves also exited that competition in midweek, but head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will have shed few tears at unloading some of the burden on his squad.
Speckled between their Europa League appearances, Wolves have quietly built a five-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, moving from 19th place to 12th in the process.
A repeat of the draw they earned at the Emirates last November would suit him nicely.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Arsenal head coach Unai Emery on Granit Xhaka: “We need time to recover the normality in him and for us. It’s not in my mind that he will play tomorrow.
“Now we need to focus 100% on the match. Now we are going to train and at the moment he is not in my mind.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Nuno Espirito Santo: “We know it will be very, very difficult. Arsenal have a fantastic squad and a very good manager, so it’s going to be very difficult.
“We don’t look at the table. We compete against every opponent that we have in front of us in all competitions.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
Arsenal have got some issues but their home form is not usually one of them. We know they have defensive instability but we see it less often at the Emirates Stadium than elsewhere.
Prediction: 2-0
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Wolves’ 3-1 victory in the last meeting in April was their first over Arsenal in 40 years – ending a 20-game winless streak against the Gunners (D4, L16).
- After winning their first six Premier League meetings, Arsenal have won just one of the last four, drawing two and losing one.
Arsenal
- Arsenal are unbeaten at home this season in their eight league and cup matches, winning six of them.
- They haven’t lost at home in a 3pm Saturday kick-off since the opening day of the 2013-14 season, winning 20 and drawing two since then.
- Arsenal’s tally of 16 points is their lowest after 10 matches of a Premier League season since 2012.
- The Gunners have only kept one clean sheet in their past seven home league matches.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could go four league appearances without a goal for the first time since a run of five at Borussia Dortmund from October to November 2014.
- Bernd Leno has made 39 saves in the division this season, more than any other goalkeeper prior to the weekend fixtures.
- Unai Emery has won only one of his five competitive fixtures as a manager against Nuno Espirito Santo, drawing two and losing two.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Wolves could score in 10 consecutive top-flight fixtures for the first time since 1972.
- They could equal their Premier League club record of six consecutive matches unbeaten.
- They have have scored a league-high 85% of their goals in the second half of games this season.
- Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have the third best second-half record in the division.
- Seven of Raul Jimenez’s 10 goals in all competitions this season have come away from home.
