Wolves travel to the Emirates tomorrow looking for another famous result against title challenging Arsenal.
The Gunners will be hoping to bounce back after surrendering a four goal lead to Newcastle last time out. However they were no doubt buoyed by seeing Man United’s unbeaten run brought to an abrupt end at Molineux hours later.
Arsene Wenger will hope his side avoid a similar slip-up, particularly with a daunting Champions League tie against Barcelona to navigate in midweek.
With that fixture in mind, perhaps Wenger will consider resting a few players, especially those returning from international duty. Could that give Wolves a boost?
It’s worth noting that Arsenal have already suffered 3 league defeats at home this season with Albion, Newcastle and Spurs all leaving with the maximum, so they’re far from invincible.
Still, it goes without saying they’re a quality side and if Fabregas, Nasri and co are on song, it’s tremendously difficult to contain their devastating passing game.
Wolves managed it for 95 minutes last season but fell victim to a last gasp header from Nicklas Bendtner. Similarly, Wolves pushed them all the way at Molineux earlier in the season but ultimately came up short.
Perhaps we’re due the rub of the green against the Gunners?
The Wolves team should pick itself, barring injuries, and I’m expecting to see the same eleven that overcame Man United last Saturday. That would mean a team of:
Hennessy
Zubar
Berra
Stearman
Elokobi
Jarvis
Henry
Milijas
O’Hara
Hammill
Doyle
It’s possible Mick could opt to bring in someone like Dave Edwards, who gets around the pitch and presses the ball, but I think we need to try and keep possession ourselves, so two creative players should aid that game plan.
Prediction League
Well, a surprising number of you correctly predicted we’d beat Man Utd last weekend. Rob, Martin and my esteemed colleague Ben all picked up the maximum for getting the scoreline right. Well done lads!
Super Kev Doyle, Aikiwolves and Exeter Wolf kept the faith but didn’t get the correct score. A single point is your reward.
I’ve decided to abandon all logic this weekend because it obviously doesn’t apply to Wolves.
What the hell hey? 2-1 to the boys in gold.
I’ve gone mad I know.
If you’re heading down to our nation’s capital, have a great time and roar the lads on.
Up The Wolves.
Optimistic for a draw here: Arse 1-1 Wolves.
PS. Nasri is mentioned in the blog, but I thought he was out for most of February with the hamstring injury?!
Oh yeah, you’re right Kowloon. Forgot he was crocked. Good news for us as he’s been in exceptional form this season.
Like I say in the preview, if Wenger also opts to rest the likes of Walcott, Fabregas, etc, combined with their problems at the back, it could give us an even better opportunity to cause an upset.
I’m hoping, probably foolishly, that it won’t be quite as much of a ‘backs to the wall’ game as it was last season. We played well in that one, but were pretty much bombarded start to finish.
More possession needed this time around.
I’m going for a 3-1 defeat unfortunately, a bit like the Spurs game. We’ll take the lead andhold strong for 70 mins before the ref does something silly.
Walcott and Wilshire tired from mid week.
Thier bloke who got sent off, some foreigner, so he’s out.
And, best boost for us, that stupid pratt Keogh not there to try lobbing the keeper from 5 miles away!!
Wolves to win, and Wenger to make excuses like, he didn’t see any of the five goals his team conceded!!!
FOMM
I’m going for a Desmond 2 – 2.
This is a hard one to predict. Do I go with a Wolves win because we lost to Arsenal earlier in the season and we have to beat them, as they’re in the top 4. Or do I go for an Arsenal win because we haven’t won two games in a row all year…. 1-1 Draw.
Arsenal 3:0 Wolves.
Sorry people – cant see us getting anything out of this one – said the same about Man Ure though so come on me baabies!
went to this game last year, thought we played really well. with a bit more bravery we could even have won the game.
i think it will be similar again, but 2-0. Van Persie will be the difference.
if we dare dream of winning… i wonder if any other team has beaten all the traditional ‘top 4’ in a season before?!
Van Persie has had flu all week – so lets hope he has a stinker!
Although shamefully I have made him my dream team captain this week!
I honestly think we will take at least a point, maybe it’s my heart ruling my head
As with the Man Utd game, evrything points to and says a home win. However Wolves need to win some matches, because if we don
heres the rest of my bog, t we will be watching Doncaster again sat on a building site. So its 1-0 to Wolves and and England to beat Italy as well.
This is where we come back down to earth with a bump. 4-0 Areshole
After the crazy game last weekend, I think Arsenal will respond with a solid performance. I expect it will be too much for us, 2-0 Arsenal.
Looks like Roy Hodgons first game in charge of the shit will be against us… Lets hope they don’t try to impress their new manager and we can beat Hodgson for the second time this season!
Arsenal 3-2 Wolves.
Arsenal to go in 3-0 up at half time. A second half Wolves fight back has them crapping themselves. But they manage to hold on, afraid of a repeat of last weekend.
I’m trying desperately to look at the positives. Maybe they’ll have one eye on Barca and rest key players, we’re playing a team at the top, not bottom…
Still think we’ll lose 2-0 though
Optimism reigns…if only!
We’ve just beaten the unbeatable Man Utd., the wind is behind us with a well rested and fit squad heading for the Emirates – tell me why we can’t get a result?
Arsenal 1-1 Wolves on paper; I’d love to see us nick it – we are due a slice of good fortune.
Off to beat hapless Hodgson’s team again next week which will give us 3 wins on the bounce and we’re looking good for a mid-table finish.
Super Mick McCarthy!
Arsenal 2 Wolves 2 (Doyle, O’Hara)
Score draw, maybe nick it by one but I doubt it. I’ll be optimistic and say 1-1!!!!
Wolves 0 Arsenal 1 Unfortuanetly
Arsenal 2-1 Wolves
Just feeling a tiny bit annoyed…. ive predicted 2-1 wolves every game this season and which week do i forget to post? MMMMMMMMM
2-1 wolves.
1-2 to the Wolves
I can see arsenal being a bit complacent, and with our rejuvenated young and exciting midfield maybe an open game against a team that likes to pass could suit us? Bit hopeful I know, but I’m also going 1-2 away win and a lovely looking league table tomorrow morning
Watch the dinosaur change a winning team and start Ward.
May as well have started Ward Clive… our full backs are atrocious, they don;t add up to a DereK Parkin between them
Henry…what was he doing? How many tackles did he chicken out of? If I had been the Manager I would have hauled him off
Big George was plodding, but I thought Zubar had an OK game, considering. Hennessey played a blinder, and Stearman was also on top of his game (although he and Zubar left van Persie alone to score the opener).
Our attacking players did nothing much. Doyle’s first touch deserted him. O’Hara looked undercooked. Don’t even get me started on Jarvis.
But give Arsenal their due. They were fabulous really. I’d never really studied Wilshire’s play before, but he was equal to Henry + Milijas combined. Song was on song too. In fact there were times when they just seemed to have 13 players on the pitch to our eleven.
We’ve had our share of results against the elite teams, but yesterday the gulf in class really showed.
Men against boys.
We were pedestrianly awful.
I agree about Henry, what was that stat. about us losing nearly all the games he’s played in?
We were woeful up front, crap in midfield, no challenges, and when we got the ball we didn’t want it and promptly gave it back.
Hate to say this but we only started playing, a bit, when Foley came on.
Fletcher looks as if he’s already been sold, and overall we were flattered to only let 2 in, Hennessy had another good game.
Still, win one lose one, so watch out shit, your next!!
FOMM