Grand, because we have not seen Premier League football from 3 long months and the opening match between Man Utd and Fulham was shit. So, forget about what happened yesterday and treat this as the opening of the season. I can guarantee much more excitement, enthusiasm, the eagerness to win and the quest for the title begins for Arsenal.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the best club in the world plays football today. Arsenal takes on Wolves at 3 PM BST (7.30 PM IST), at Emirates. We have a almost everyone available to play, Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber missed the Emirates Cup but they are mostly likely to be available today. Whether they will play is a different thing, since Zinchenko is most likely to start in that LB and midfield is full. Tomiyasu and Tierney are the only two players who will not be available for today’s game but we are not going to miss him at all.
Team selection will be a headache for Mikel, since we haven’t got Merino and if he tries to fit in Havertz along side Rice, the CF position will remain open. He can alternatively play Havertz up top and have a midfield of Partey, Rice and Odegaard. I am expecting to see Martinelli on the left, the rest of the squad picks itself up. Wolves are a bit in a mess after selling their captain Max Kilman to West Ham and Pedro Neto to Chelsea. Two very important players for Wolves missing out today, and we need to capitalise on it.
Mikel Arteta was very positive about today in his press conference –
We are really excited. We’ve been missing the competition for many weeks, it’s too long for us. We are so willing to start and so enthusiastic about it.
source : Arsenal.com
We have got a pretty decent track record against Wolves. We have won our last 6 games against them, we have won our opening games in our last season and before that. We have at least scored once against Wolves in our last 33 games and that’s some achievement.
There are a few things I am expecting to see as the season folds. Timber will slowly take up the space Zinchenko plays in. He showed promise when he joined us in pre-season last season before his injury and there will be some time before he is match fit. It remains to be seen if Arteta takes his time or rushes him back in the team, but it’s going to happen.
Havertz, moving to the CF position for final. Kai had 14 goals and 7 assists last season, mostly playing up top and I am sure Mikel is in the mood to make him permanent in that position. Primary reason why we are looking for midfielder than a CF. Now, would I loved a traditional CF? Yes. Is it going to happen? No. So, lets hope Kai have a great season, ends up 20+ goals this season and become a main character in our winning season!
Third, Calafiori. This one is a mystery to me. I believe he is a back up / competition to Saliba and Gabriel and not brought as a LB or RB. Saliba played every minute for the club last season, and there is always a probability for injuries / sickness / form loss. We needed a back up, we had Tomi and White but Mikel never tested them so yeah, lets see how much Mikel uses Calafiori this season.
Right, I won’t bore you much today. We have an exciting team, an exciting season ahead and we hope Mikel delivers a trophy (or 2 I won’t mind). Don’t forget to share you predictions, expected team and anything related to Arsenal in the comments.
If Wolves keep it to 1:0 until halftime, they’ll still have the odd dangerous moment in the second half.
How did Mart’s miss the cut back to the penalty spot for Rice?
Havertz looks more spry and bit more positive/direct, just wish he would try to play through contact much more often…now if you could get that version, then add a Striker of consequence, you might just have something there
on a side note, I’m elated that Marts is starting
Good first half and worthy of the goal. Not happy Zinchenko is slowing our attacks and not the answer on the left. Marts could make way for Trossard, as his inside the box play will pay dividends like last season. He’ll be too quick for the Wolves CBs.
it was a great save by Raya, now that I’ve had another look…I did think his performances were better at the end of last season and in his Euro start
sadly, that woeful attempt by Havertz was much more in line with what we’ve seen since his arrival…as the commentator stated, he needs to seriously “refine” his skills in front of goal
as was often the case in year’s past, we get a goal lead then sit back too much and willingly invite pressure…why the fuck would you do this against a Wolves side who didn’t even allow their backers to push up the pitch in the first-half…hopefully we can take advantage of a countering opportunity
Timber in, Zinchenko out…as I stated earlier in the summer, I think Calafiori is here to replace Gabs
Not surprised to see Zinchenko off. Timber will give defenders splinters🙈
nice to see us finally on the front foot again
TRVL
Does look like Deja vu of last season.
We should be dispatching Wolves by 72 minutes.
Needed 73 then.
Inspired subs TRVL. 🤔
personally I would love to see Timber and Saka on the right together, especially knowing that the both will cut inside and out in the final third
beautiful finish by Saka…we need that sort of decisive finishing from him this season
To be fair White has been largely ineffective with his final 3rd work. Timber by far is the more skilful player.
Need that from Havertz but doubt we’ll see it. Havertz main effort went way wide. Havertz had time.
Ode is finding new telepathic levels
Tross comes in, as expected, then pushes Marts to the right…that’s not a good sign for Marts, in that if he doesn’t take his chances as a starter, he will quickly become more of a cover piece option, like at the end of last season…Tross makes more sense with Havertz up top because he likes to tuck inside more, but I think Marts would be far more effective with a better Striker and LB on the pitch
not even sure what the fuck our formation is now
Maybe we could sell Eddie to the Wolves…they could really use a poacher-type with PL experience
always good to get a win and a clean sheet, but far from routine