Arsenal will attempt to create a seven-point lead atop the Premier League table when they lock horns with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Wednesday night. Mikel Arteta has received a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
The Spanish tactician has been sweating over the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White. The former missed the FA Cup clash with Wigan Athletic due to an issue he sustained during the warm-up procedures, while the latter was taken off in the second half. The duo may be fit and available to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers.
However, Martin Odegaard (knee), Max Dowman (ankle), and Kai Havertz (muscular) will not be available until the weekend, while Mikel Merino (foot) is a long-term absentee. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Arteta provided fitness updates on several players.
The Arsenal manager said, “He [Calafiori] is fine, he was training with us today. He’s feeling better and hopefully he’s fit for tomorrow. It was just a bit of fatigue [for Ben White]. Obviously he did a lot in the game. By the end of it, he was feeling a bit of tightness in the hamstring, but he’s fine.”
“No, for Wolves [Martin’s] not going to be fit, but for Sunday we’re very hopeful that he can be with us. Kai is the other one that again, for the weekend is a possibility, so looking forward to having him in the squad.”
David Raya is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Arsenal lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday. The backline will feature Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Piero Hincapie.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi in the double pivot, with Eberechi Eze reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Viktor Gyokeres will lead the line for the away side against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Leandro Trossard and Noni Madueke being the two wide attackers. So, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli will be among the backup options on the bench for the Gunners.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres
