Arsenal will host Wolves at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, aiming to stretch their Premier League lead to five points against the winless strugglers. The Gunners sit two points clear at the top, while Wolves have just two points from 15 games and are 13 points from safety. Manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed Gabriel Jesus is fit to start after a knee injury.
Arsenal enter the match following a 2-1 Premier League loss to Aston Villa last weekend, where Emi Buendia's late goal secured the win for the hosts, and a 3-0 Champions League victory over Club Brugge on Wednesday. They lead Manchester City by two points, with Villa one point further back. Both rivals play on Sunday, giving Arsenal a chance to apply pressure.
Wolves, managed by Rob Edwards, remain bottom of the table with no wins this season, earning only two points from 15 matches. They showed resilience in Monday's 4-1 defeat to Manchester United, leveling after falling behind before conceding three second-half goals. Centre-back Emmanuel Agbadou emphasized the team's resolve, stating on Wolves' official website: “When you’re in the situation we’re in and things happen like that, it becomes difficult, but we’re not going to give up. We’re going to try to give everything to at least finish our season well.”
Team news brings challenges for both sides. Arsenal will miss suspended Riccardo Calafiori and injured players Max Dowman (ankle), Cristhian Mosquera (ankle), Leandro Trossard (knock), Gabriel (thigh), and Kai Havertz (knee). Declan Rice (illness), William Saliba (knock), and Jurrien Timber (knock) are doubts but could feature. For Wolves, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde may be unavailable after an injury against United, with Rodrigo Gomes (groin), Marshall Munetsi (calf), Leon Chiwone (knee), and Daniel Bentley (ankle) ruled out.
Arteta provided a positive update on Gabriel Jesus, sidelined all year with a knee injury but now back in contention. The manager dismissed sale rumors, saying: “We know his quality, he has given us so much. If he comes with the quality he did the other day then he is certainly a player that has to be pushing and aiming for that [to start up front]. I don’t consider [selling him], especially with the situation we have right now. Gabby has a lot to offer to the team, he proved that straight away in the first minutes he was available to play.” Viktor Gyokeres, signed in the summer, and Mikel Merino have filled in up front, with Havertz nearing return.
Historically, Arsenal dominate this fixture, winning their last eight Premier League games against Wolves—their longest run against any opponent since 10 straight versus Burnley from 2010 to 2019. Wolves have one win in their last 14 away league games at Arsenal, losing the past four since a 2-1 victory in November 2020. Arsenal have scored in every one of their last 35 meetings with Wolves, dating back to a 1-0 home loss in February 1979.
Arteta cautioned against complacency: “You can get beaten in any Premier League match and especially against a team that is fighting for results. I know the manager well and how he will push his players. We know what we have to do. In the end you are going to have to get over 90 points to win it [the title], that means winning a lot of football matches.” Kick-off is at 20:00 GMT, with coverage on TNT Sports in the UK.
