I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say this fixture was our easiest win last season.
It feels strange saying that given the great Arsenal teams I’ve grown up watching and the fact we’d never beaten them in my lifetime prior to that thoroughly enjoyable evening.
But they weren’t in a great moment and Diogo Jota tore through them again and again to put the contest to bed before half-time.
There isn’t a single part of me that believes it will be so easy this time, but I do know that all things considered, we’re probably now the favourites in this fixture and that alone is a remarkable achievement.
If we do win, we’ll leapfrog Chelsea, albeit temporarily and make a huge statement about our Champions League credentials.
Arsenal
The highest Arsenal can probably hope to finish is 6th, but they can forget about that if they lose on Saturday.
So this is kind of a last hurrah for them in one sense, particularly with their next three games pitting them against Leicester, Spurs and Liverpool.
A challenging run-in for Mikel Arteta with a squad that’s already struggled to cope with the weight of expectations.
Progressing to the semi-final of the FA Cup and winning the last two in the league have lifted the gloom though, so they head to Molineux in confident mood.
They also have the Premier League’s joint top scorer in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after his brace against Norwich took him to 19 for the season.
But with only 3 away wins this season from 16 matches, they won’t be under any illusions about the requirement for a big performance in this one.
The away end
Some thoughts lifted from the pre-match thread on the Arsenal Mania forum.
As much as I want us to win I am not confident we can beat Wolves.
We’ll try and match wolves formation and it’s seem working well with us defensively it’ll limit the danger of Jimenez and Traore the problem we’ll face mostly in midfield because Neves moutinho are more solid than xhaka Ceballos or Torreira
I’m actually feeling pretty confident going into this match. Wolves have won three in a row, but they’ve played West Ham, Bournemouth, and Villa and none of the wins have been convincing. They beat West Ham 2-0 and won the other two 1-0. They’ve had a really favorable schedule. Tierney will need to have a big match because Traore will be coming at him. They will constantly be a threat on the counter, but Pepe, Nketiah, and Auba will give their defense a lot of problems. The midfield battle will be huge, so Xhaka and Ceballos need to dominate possession.
Norwich was a good result and a decent performance, but this is a real test. Wolves aren’t gonna hand us two goals on a plate like Norwich did.
Both teams have won their last three matches, but Wolves have played some of the worst teams in the league. They’re definitely playing well, but over each teams last three games I wouldn’t say they are playing better than us because they were able to grind out victories against teams fighting relegation. I’m definitely not expecting an easy match, but I think we can win.
Wolves
It was back to 352 against Villa and I think that’s what we’ll see here as Arsenal are normally a good bet to pony over a mistake so no sense chasing the game.
Keeping Adama in reserve for the final push has worked well and I can easily see it playing out again here.
Aubameyang didn’t play in this one last season and he’s the difference-maker for Arsenal. If we can nullify him that will go a long way towards winning the battle.
The lads have had a full week to rest, compared to Arsenal who played in the week, so perhaps that will give us some sort of advantage – not that it’s helped many of our opponents this season.
Predictions
Well done to vicsmith, Brompton Wolf, PaulAD67, Woodend Wolf and Mike Jones who all collected a maximum for correctly predicting a 1-0 victory at Villa Park. Iceni Wolf still leads the way in the overall table.
As always, if you want to join in, simply leave your prediction in the comment section below using the boxes provided.
That’s where you’ll find my best guess.
Up The Wolves!
Unlike our last three opponents, Arsenal have the artillery to cause us pain.
They’re vulnerable defensively though and I’m not sure if they’ve got the balance in the team to perform consistently against well-drilled opponents. In that sense, it should be a good fixture for our ultra organised team.
To win would be huge and if it becomes a game of chess I think we will emerge victorious.
But I suspect they’ll have their say at some point and this might end up being even stevens.
Yep, I see it the same way Thomas.
I have this one down as a draw on my spreadsheet with our three rivals above us all winning. Maybe one of those frustrating draws where we should have won it…
Thinking maybe we play Adama and Raul up top and keep The Donk in midfield? Bit of overkill as we should dominate Arsenal’s midfield anyway.
Good test for our backline but I’m sure they’ll relish it.
So a draw… sod it 2-1 win!
Arsenal then, is it?
Certainly not for Willy Boly.
The Gooners are one of the teams who think they can just click their fingers and grateful players will come running.
They have long coveted many of our stars and Willy is high on their list.
But this is what he’s said on the subject:-
“Sometimes I speak to some friends and they ask me what I want to do in the future.
“Seriously, I’m 29 now, and what I want to do as a player is for Wolves to be very high.
“Imagine if in 10 years time Wolves are playing in the Champions League, et cetera, then I can say ‘I started with this project’.
“I would be very, very proud. This is my mind now.”
RESPECT!
Let’s show everybody what he won’t be missing and take another three points off the team that sits six points below us in the League.
Very interesting game which could go either way if either team gets a bit of luck. Goal difference could be massive at the end of the season, particularly with Chelsea, so we do need to up the ante in the first half. If we score first I believe we will win easily enough, but we have not really got out of first gear yet, and this is the game to do so. Adama will likely be on the bench as we start at 352, but he will soon start to get frustrated if he is only used as a sub. On the assumption we score first(!!) We will go on to score a second!
Agree with Thomas re going 352 and waiting for the Arsenal mistake.
I’m normally all for 343 and getting on the front foot, especially at home, but packing the midfield frustrated Arsenal at the Mol last season. They must have had 70% possession but did very little with it – I remember a lot of sideways passing. The defensive errors inevitably occurred and we took full advantage.
However, I would start Traore. I know even he’s not quite as effective down the middle, but I still thought he had an impact at Villa. I just don’t see Luiz and that Arsenal defence being able to cope with him.
Btw, not especially worried about Jota, he invariably comes good after a few games. Just think it makes sense to unleash Traore from the off.
With the forward lines of these two on the pitch it’s hard to imagine that we won’t see goals
So it’s down to the defence and as they have recently started with three at the back because they have been so jealous of how good we are , then it’s us to win by the odd goal
It’s hard to predict us letting two goals in but they almost have their season on the line so this will be tough
Jota with a couple, who will no doubt get linked to arsenal 24 hours after the game
With united losing to Bournemouth, this is going to be a great weekend
Utw
Oh and hands off our big Willy
I watched the Spurs game last night and saw justice being served to Sheff Utd after the Clear and obvious Villa goal That was disallowed by Hawkeye of all things. The commentators all through the game Harped on about VAR and poor Jose, so I knew what to expect this morning in the Biased media.
Well, certainly not disappointed on that front, they totally convinced me that Sheff Utd weren’t even there last night. These media hacks do my head in.
So when like Doog I read, Boly was being touted by Arsenal, I laughed Louder than Boly in his interview. Arrogant knob heads think these London clubs have a Dog given right to cherry pick players at will to fix their inadequacies.
Rant over, we’ve come back fitter than most teams apart from Man City who look on their game and that’s discounting the game last night because Liverpool were certainly still pissed after their partying. So I think we can edge this.
But reverse psychology still winning it for me, Arsenal will thrash the bejeebers out of us.
Brilliant rant Stu !! Loved it
Your team is bang average at best
Arsenal to win 3-1
Your team is just “Average”
Your not famous any more, still I suppose you come on our blog to view proper loyal supporters comments and to educate yourselves.
So that must make your team
Well , below average
Utw
Our ‘Bang average’ team, even if you beat us tomorrow, will still be three points in front of your, ‘slightly below bang average’ lot.
Thanks for the email address. Would it be ‘bang average’ of me to sign you up for loads of dodgy sites?
If I give you my email address will you sign ME up for a few?
Six games left. Win them all and we can achieve 70 points. Certain top 4 finish. Lose one and it’s 67 points. Almost certainly top 4 finish. Lose two and its 64 points max. This is where the marker currently resides. Possible top 4 finish. So in this respect there isn’t much room to manoeuvre. Lawro reckons a Wolves win and it’s good enough me. I reckon 2-1 WWFC.
Wolvis 1
Arsenal 2
Whom is this Wolvis to whom you refer of?
They invented spel chek a wile bak, yew no.
Another win against one of the weaker teams!
COYW.
Hard to stop the euphoric train as it rushes onwards without stopping is’nt it? Will we hit the bumpers or keep on going to Champions League station? Enough of the metaphors, lets enjoy the ride, first class all the way and hope and trust in the boys.
Heart says win, head says draw – go with the heart!
Not metaphors but in the past I used many cliches.
Now I avoid them like the plague.
Arse will come to play football and will be beaten by the better footballing team.
Jota to finally get his premier league hatrick.
Heart it is then, Andrew!
Welcome to our Arsenal visitors above. I suggest you stay in close proximity to Wolves Blog . You will be able to get all the news from the Champions League next season.
Love it Cheesy!!!
My fave prediction, in fact my only prediction, is 5-1.
Got it right twice in the history of the blog.
One of my fave matches, November 197 something.
Wolves 5 Arsenal 1
Repeat very likely tomorrow, except there probably won’t be any snow.
How these deluded arrogant southern tossers can come on our blog and hurl insults is beyond me.
Results and tables don’t lie.
Arsenal is a spent force, top ten finish at best is all they can hope for, and we will do our bit by taking another three points off them, again, at The Mol.
Bye bye Artetie, sack at the end of the season
We will make it 4 wins in a row. Arsenal 2 wolves 0
Welcome Sagir
Always nice to here from a few opposition fans, especially when they provide such insights from a common nostalgic point of view, the comedic slant is always a winner amongst football folk too , nice one boys
Enjoy the game as much as as is possible without picking up any points that is .
Utw
Its crunch time for Arsenal. If they don’t take 3 points tomorrow they can forget about European football next season (whenever it may start). So expect Nuno to start with 3-5-2 to maintain some degree of control early on and to see the speed merchants (Traore & Neto) to emerge again around the hour mark. Like many on here, my heart says a win , my head says a draw.
Three wins in a row bodes well for our chances. The Arse are of a slightly higher standard than our previous opponents but not high enough to go home with any points and I’m sure we’ll keep up the pressure on our CL rivals.
Seven clean sheets in the last eight games is phenomenal defending and our lads will need to be on best behaviour to squash Aubameyang and Co but we’ve squashed better than them in the recent past so my confidence is high.
Adama as second half sub please, and I’m sure Willy has no interest in the Arse.
After our great re-start against modest opposition, this match will sort the men from the boys. We have the attacking quality to score against Arsenal’s shaky defence but they have the flair to test our more robust defence. This suggests a tight win to me, unless Jota suddenly gets his mojo back. If he does, he has previous against them, and will run them ragged. Then we can bring on the fastest footballer on the planet and kick them when they’re down. With Jota back to form I would say 3-0 but I will hedge my bets that Traore will have to come on again to give us the three points. 2-1.
By the way, partnerships such as Jimenez and Traore are great. Last season the Jimenez and Jota one was promising. This year I can see one for the future. Batman and Robin: in other words, Traore and Neto. Neto is every inch the Boy Wonder.
Hard one to call, heart says win but head says draw so…
Refuse to predict anything but a win against these arrogant tossers from North London.
Hopefully we will win all the games to the end of the season and then enjoy the media having a collective nervous breakdown.
I believe the tactics adopted in the last 3 games will do us nicely for this game too. 3-5-2 formation for the first 55 mins. Then unleash The Beast and Neto. Score one goal then cruise. Easy Hahh??
This is likely to be a pivotal game. (Like v Bristol City in The Championship) and will decide the European ambitions of both clubs.
Despite Arteta’s best efforts they remain a mess on and off the pitch. With a huge wage bill and no Champions League for three seasons plus coronavirus financially they are right in it. On the pitch they are still plagued with Ill-discipline both playing e.g . Luiz and in terms of behaviour Guandozie. Their defence and midfield remains fragile, only up front, with Aubamayang do they offer a threat – and he’s eyeing the exit door. Mezit Ozil is exiled.
I expect a win.
Plan for the worst.
Hope for the best.
Expect something in the middle.
Arsenal are a bigger test than our last three opponents and are on a high having won their last four and with plenty of goals to boot.
However, their opposition hasn’t been up to much either and they have conceded goals where we haven’t. True Sheffield Utd are up there but they haven’t at the races since the restart until they beat Spurs.
Add onto that that we’ve had a good rest since our last game then I think there is a lot to be point towards another win.
Trouble is – this could be one of those games where both sides might be more focused on not losing than winning. If Arsenal lose they can kiss goodbye to a top 6 finish. If we lose and results go against us then we may find it difficult to break into the top 5 from hereonin. A point for either team isn’t great but might seem like a decent result to keep us both in our respective hunts with what matches remain.
So I think it might be a cagey one with us piling on the pressure for the win late on.
Been a reader for a while, While winding down the last hour at work and reading through I felt the inept need to comment on this game.
I love how the southerners statement about the 3 teams we have played since the restart. When, there last 3 wins was against…. hmm….
Arsenal do have scoring prowess, and in spates silky football. But the inexperience in the team with there AWAY record, and the fact we just don’t concede goals at the moment. Since the restart we have played a different style of controlling the ball all over the pitch and not giving teams chance, Arsenal would do well to not forget our “PRE” lockdown form, of allowing the opposition to have the ball and countering, especially against the “below” average midfield and shaky defence of arsenal.
I think we just have too much class. I mean we do have a few special game changers.
On a FINAL Note, Please don’t take Jotta not scoring as being in bad form… His work rate is what breaks down defences, That allows the others to run freely against any opponent.
Agree Wolves fan in Liverpool Jota does not stop working over the 9o minutes be great for him tomorrow to find the net.
Agree, Wolves fans in Liverpool and Dorset. If anyone deserves a goal on Saturday, it’s Diogo.
Can we beat the arsenal ?
A season ago we would hold our breath and hope to do something special against them but here and now i am not the slightest bit worried that we can give them a good hiding. .
Wolves have played their last three games against totally inferior opposition and played well within themselves hardly breaking sweat.
I dont see arsenal as the same mediocre opposition but i certainly would not put them any where near where they used to be. Indeed they are in need of a major re build and a major wage rethink after hearing what mr ozel is earning how ridiculous is that !
400 k a week according to talk sport ! what !
Is it a wonder none of the others give a s##t.
No they are not the BIG club their supporters still think they are. They have had a good run thats had its day.
Wolves on the other hand are going the other way the whole ethos is right from top to bottom and we have no room for 400k so called superstars.
So a hard working game for us and the fact that we know we will score more than them thats even if they scrape one which i doubt.
Usual calculating start to work it all out then boom ….. goodbye arsenal!
I have hated Arsenal from my youth; they were (are) my brother’s team. I still remember playing darts on his posters of Charlie George, Alan Ball and Bob McNab. It was a feisty rivalry when we were kids (only in soccer). Nothing changed. 🙂
So I will only accept a Wolves win this weekend so I can call him and rub his nose in it, rather than vice versa.
Let’s go Wanderers! You got this!
I used to throw darts at a picture of Bob Wilson but they kept going underneath his body.
Ha ha, good one!
I’ll go for us conceding 1 but ultimately winning
Arsenal used to be the best team in the country…..then they were the best team in London……now it’s questionable whether they are even the best team in North London…..god help them if Highbury or Woolwich ever get their act together
I tend to agree with Happy Wanderer about this game potentially being pivotal. The last three opponents were efficiently despatched and it was good to see that we have ended the run of bad results against the bottom teams. We needed to put away the lower clubs, but ultimately if we are to end this season as we hope to then we need also to get good results against those nearer to us.
I had memories of a particularly nice win against Arsenal in my days – now long gone – as a young supporter. My memory turned out to be true, In March 1959 we won 6-1 and, by way of inspiration, it came in the 13 match unbeaten run which ended our second successive season as champions. The run took in ten wins and three draws and the average score was 3-1. I was also at Highbury a few months later to see us win 5-1.
So why shouldn’t our present run continue? The late fifties team was full of highly skilled players ….. but so is today’s, and with the addition of far better organisation, so onwards and upwards. I’m going with that average score from 1959.
COYW
Let’s consider this logically.
Our keeper is a top shot stopper. Theirs isn’t.
Our defence is extremely solid with top central defenders and talented wing backs able to deliver pinpoint crosses. Their defence is a shambles.
Our midfield is full of class. Theirs is full of prima donnas and a girlie who needs a haircut.
They have one class forward. We have five!
So that’s 5-1 then? No, we’ll ease off when the job”s done.
Can’t see anything but a wolves win . We have far to much pace and panache for their defence to handle plus Adama is as fast as fook !
COYW
Yow ay allowed to say fook, the blog perleese am wotchin
Well is Ozil driving the team up ? 350k a week and hardly ever seen.
Luiz (Arteta gives him a 12 month contract) in defence poss Mustafi If fit ?
Arsenal Are a poor team
Head tells me a draw most likely but partner’s son is a Gunner and will be insufferable if we lose. So I’ll go for a fourth win on the trot (is that a prem record for WWFC?). Arsenal have been really dire at times this season , especially away, so not so much to fear here.
We have done just enough post lockdown to win our 3 games against mediocre opposition. Given the increased preparation time this week,I believe Nuno will have the lads up for this challenge. Yes, they will have their moments and stretch our defensive organisation but if the scores are level at halftime there will only be one outcome. We will strangle their midfield and ultimately inflict a comfortable win over a club now living on past glories. Jota to come back into form with a goal and Adama and Pedro to complete the scoring. Nuno wants CL next season and won’t allow a team that plays a prat like David Luis stop us.
Arrogant lot the Gooners. We are more controlled and disciplined and the league position doesn’t lie.
Defend like we have been, take our chances and we will prevail. Agree with all the comments on Jota, this is the game for him to shine. I have a mate who is a Blades fan, he said that he would love it if Wolves and Blades took the Euro spots at the expense of Spurs and Arsenal….. I have to agree.
I don’t like how confident i am feeling about tomorrow’s game i just think Arsenal will play right into our hands. The will come and attack so are ripe for a counter attack and are pretty poor at the back. They obviously have players that can hurt us but our defence is looking very tight. Start Adama get the goal, Donck comes on to help see the game game out
Wolves to give the arrogant goodness a beating.
Just to slip this under the feet of the Arsenal fans.
It just happens to be Nuno’s 150th game in charge at Mollynow.
Oh bless! So sweet to see the Arsenal fans on here before they have their hot milk & get tucked up by their mums!!
Won’t be an easy game but we’ve had a weeks rest so the lads should be up for it. Heart says win, head says draw! Heart wins.
COYW
A pivotal and not easy game for both. Wolves move onward and upward though.
Go Wolves!
Gonna be a tough game for the lads, expect a high pace counter attack to lead to our first goal. Hoping we can score in the first half but not counting on it. Boly and Coady will have their work cut out for them and very interested to see how Doherty lines up against Auba. Very excited for tomorrow. COYW
So nice to see we are favorites.. except for deluded Gunners fans
But not all … my old buddy who moved to within walking distance of Emirates … and has already lost 20 quid based on them
Being 11 points ahead of us … hah… has refused extra wager .. even with me offering draw
Talk of vulture… again!
Moi?
So it won’t surprise me if El Nuno starts same formation… would it surprise anyone?
But what if he opens with Traore and Neto?
Brown shorts time for a few defenders… even Luiz maybe?
Either way, having predicted 9 wins from 9 after restart I see no alternative
OODCL
A tough call this one. A good win would show the so-called “Top Six” and their pundits that things at the top are changing and that we are here to stay. We have not been really stretched in defense since the restart and the Gooners have some reasonable fire power up front, be interesting to see how we cope.
1-1 draw for me this time
Jimenez,jota,goal scorers with Traore making one of them.. our dream shows goes on and on …
we fear no one and we remove Chelsea from proceedings at the end..
The London slaughter continues ..
COYW
Excited for this game, which will be a real test of our CL aspirations.
They do have goals in them, and I would hate us to go behind in the first half (again!), but we have shown such great resilience, even if we concede first.
I think I have changed my prediction 3 times since starting this para.
Seeing as the Prediction League program is broken I will have to let you know that, prior to kick off, my prediction was 4-0.
Today however it will be a tad higher as if we achieve this it could see us in 3rd lol.
Arsenal are better than our last three opponents, and there were moments when we could have conceded in each of those three matches, although we were generally in control. So, I won’t be surprised if Arsenal score a goal…….but we are even better coming from behind, and showing our real mettle against the ‘better’ teams. So, I’ll go for a win for us, of course, but with several goals scored. Oh, and I won’t be surprised to see Neto used more this week; I like Marin Wolf’s thoughts on starting with both Traore and Neto, but I expect Nuno to stick to the usual strategy.
Having read my copy of the restart programme yesterday, now I really know it – we really are one of the most professional clubs around, although the secrets out now.
If the boys are tired, they just manage the game accordingly, so as to turn on the heat when needed to pick up the points. Hence I guess holding back in the 1st half on so many occasions?
We Wolves supporters have been taken on the ride of our lives since NUS hit our shores and without doubt will go into the annuls of Wolves history as one of the best, if not the best, managers/head coaches we have had to head this great team of ours.
As for later today, tough match? maybe – any reason not to think another 3 points? don’t think so.
Still think our last game will be pivotal – hey, that’s 5 games away – let’s enjoy the moment.
With huge thanks to Lowves for this article.
I have to post both pages separately, but I guarantee you, it’s a terrific read and a huge insight into the Doctor.
Part 1…
Part 2…
Part 2 with photo…Dohhh
Well at least the Daily Mail realises we exist. Just watching Football Focus and their feature on the ‘race for the champions league’. So we had a feature on Chelsea. Tge usual b******s around Man Utd. Aubameyang at Arsenal. And poor old Spurs nasty VAR decision. Guess what. NO MENTION OF WOLVES.
What surprises me Cheesey, is that you seem surprised. I didn’t bother watching it ’cause I knew it would be the same ole crap.
Black Country lives matter.
Wolves are just not considered a top six team by the media and this must stem from the fact we are so new and teams have come and gone on a regular basis before us so its not really surprising.
Perhaps when we have truly established ourselves over the next few seasons or even better smashed the top six to pieces on a regular basis we may be taken seriously .
After all leicester are still not really considered to be top six even with what they have achieved.
The media in general want to appeal to the widest audience they can so they pick their articles to be about the most famous teams hence we have the continuous manc utd twaddle.
I have thought about sending jeff an e mail to ask him to send f.o.c thousands of wolves shirts to all the poor nations across the world as everytime we see a tv documentary or report from some remote village in africa we see manc utd shirts and i want to see those kids wearing wwfc shirts.
Lets be patient it will come.
Received my restart programme this morning, so that is a good omen.
This is the toughest of our matches, since the restart. I’m torn between head and heart and I’m going for the latter. Wolves do have the benefit of a week’s rest, so let’s go for it.
I was watching Football Focus as well.
What is it with the BEEB?
But there was a nice piece in The Telegraph this morning.
Come on me babbies.
Oh well. That’s top 4 gone. Need to win 4 of last 5 now. Even that might not do it. Still a good season if we beat last seasons 57 points and finish top 6. Still got Europa League. Very frustrating today. Cant remember their keeper making a save. Add this game to home games against Chelsea. Burnley. Brighton. Southampton.Newcastle. Similar frustrations and we have a lit more to do to be a proper Champions League team.
Fair play to Arsenal.
They DID make us look ‘Bang average’ today.
Disappointing.
No complaints at all, beaten by a team that wanted it more on the day, played better and fought harder.
Arsenal fans were right we were wrong, C’est la vie.
I might not be watching a Champions league team (yet) but I’m learning French.
Interesting stat from what I have read on Molineux Mix. Home games against the teams from Brighton upwards this season. We have won 1 drawn 7 lost 4. The solitary win against Man City. I have checked the stats and it is true. Hmmmmmmm…
Arsenal did a job on us and deserved the win. We were very poor today, too slow moving the ball out and lacked intensity. As next part of our progression for Nuno to solve is how we can score more goals. To be consistently at the top table we are going to have start doing that whether it is nuno’s natural style or not. Having said that he has solved everything thrown his way to date, so rather than a criticism this is simply an observation. Let’s hope we can bounce back in the week.
Text message sent by a WOLVES fan to his wife after todays game: Hello dear, I’m in the pub with a few friends having a quite drink. Unfortunately, someone just coughed and we all have to go into Quarantine. See you in 14 days…!
P.S. This has nothing to do with todays result…!