Arsenal vs Wolves Prediction: 17/8/2024

Despite finishing with 89 points and a six-game winning streak to close out the season, Arsenal fell short of clinching the Premier League title, which was once again claimed by Manchester City. The Gunners’ victories over Wolves, Chelsea, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Manchester United, and Everton kept their hopes alive until the very end. In the Champions League, Arsenal reached the quarter-finals, but their journey was cut short by Bayern Munich, who edged them out 3-2 on aggregate.

Arsenal’s preseason has been mixed, starting with a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, followed by a 2-1 win over Manchester United, and a 2-1 loss to Liverpool. They still have matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon before the season opener.

Wolves, on the other hand, struggled towards the end of the season despite securing their safety early on. Their only win in the last 10 games was a 2-1 victory over relegated Luton Town, accompanied by seven defeats and two draws, with heavy losses to Manchester City (5-1), Crystal Palace (3-1), and Liverpool (2-0) on the final day. They finished in a disappointing 14th place, though they managed to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals. In their preseason, Gary O’Neil’s squad began with a 3-1 win over West Ham but then suffered a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. They will also face Leipzig and Rayo Vallecano in preparation for the new season.

Arsenal’s summer has been relatively stable, with the most notable changes being the departure of Mohamed Elneny to Al-Jazira and the addition of solid defender Riccardo Calafiori. David Raya has joined permanently, while full-backs Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares have returned from loan spells. Gabriel and William Saliba, who had an outstanding Euro campaign, will continue to anchor the defense alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White. In midfield, key players Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice are expected to feature, supporting an attack led by Kai Havertz (13 goals, 7 assists last season), Bukayo Saka (16 goals, 9 assists), Leandro Trossard (12 goals), and Gabriel Martinelli (6 goals, 4 assists). Arsenal is also eyeing further reinforcements, with potential transfers including Calafiori, Eberechi Eze, and PSV’s Ibrahim Sangaré.

Wolves will look to improve on last season’s disappointing finish with the return of several players from loan spells, including Daniel Podence, Fabio Silva, Sasa Kalajdzic, Gonçalo Guedes, and Yerson Mosquera. They have also made new signings, such as Rodrigo Gomes from Braga, Pedro Lima from Brazil, and Tommy Doyle from Manchester City. Additionally, Norwegian striker Jørgen Strand Larsen has joined on loan from Celta Vigo.

However, they will be without veteran defender Max Kilman, who signed with West Ham this summer. Key players like goalkeeper José Sá, defenders Rayan Aït-Nouri, Mario Lemina, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and attackers Pablo Sarabia, Matheus Cunha, and Hwang Hee-chan will be crucial for Wolves, though Hwang is rumored to be leaving for Marseille.

 

Prediction

Arsenal, despite missing out on a fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, are showing strong form with six consecutive home wins, making them a formidable opponent once again. Wolves, on the other hand, have struggled on the road, losing their last five away games and conceding 13 goals. Arsenal is likely to secure a convincing victory.

Prediction: Arsenal 3 : 1 Wolves