Despite looking on course for a first league title since 2004, Arsenal will have to settle for second place behind serial winners Manchester City. A young manager with a young, exciting team, the Gunners have a lot to build on ahead of the next campaign. A game in front of a sellout Emirates gives Arsenal the chance to end the season with a win.
Strong home form under Julien Lopetegui steered Wolves clear of any relegation battle. However, with uncertainty around finances and many players departing, there are worries from internal sources that the Spaniard may walk away.
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Arsenal vs Wolves Predicted Lineups
Tierney and Trossard to start
With injuries to key players such as Oleksandr Zinchenko, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli, expect a new-look Arsenal side. Belgian winger Leandro Trossard is expected to replace the injury-stricken Brazillian, with Kieran Tierney displacing Zinchenko and Polish international Jakub Kiwior set to retain his place in the heart of the defence.
Goodbye for Neves?
Lopetegui will probably line up in a 4-4-2 again, hoping to hit Mikel Arteta’s side on the counter-attack. Departing Ruben Neves looks set to partner youngster Joao Gomes in midfield, with speed-demon Adama Traore set to start on the wing.
Arsenal vs Wolves Team Stats
Goalscoring Gunners
Mikel Arteta has transformed his Arsenal team into goal-machines, with the Gunners
averaging 2.24 goals per game. However, due to their front-footed attacking nature, they are prone to being leaky at the back – conceding an average of 1.16 goals per game. The 2.24 goals per game come from 1.87 xG, showing how clinical this young side is.
With an average of 15.54 shots per game and 8.95 shots against, it is clear to see why Arteta’s side have performed so well. They also tend to not concede many corners (3.65 per game) whilst averaging 5.81 corners. Arteta has his side well disciplined, only receiving 1.38 cards per game, whilst being on the receiving end of 2.3.
Woeful Wolves
Wolves’ impotency in front of goal is a major reason they are languishing in the bottom half of the league, with Lopetegui’s side scoring only 31 goals thus far (0.84 PG) – the lowest in the league. They do boast the third best defensive record in the bottom half with 53 (1.43 PG) conceded. However, they are capable of leaking goals away from home, as shown in the 6-0 drubbing by Brighton. Don’t expect many corners from the Wanderers as they average 4.89 per game and are facing an Arsenal side who only concede 3.65. On the card front, Wolves do tend to overstep the marker on occasion, finding themselves in the referees’ notebook 2.46 times a game, with their opponents racking up 2.03 per 90.
Arsenal vs Wolves Shots and Shots on Target Stats
Shooting Gunners
With Arsenal averaging 15 shots per game, some of their players may be worth a bet in the shot market. Brazilian Gabriel Jesus has 3.42 shots per 90, with Norwegian maestro Martin Ødegaard seeing 2.71 shots, slightly more than star man Bukayo Saka (2.39).
Variety for Wolves
Despite their impotency in front of goal, Wolves have plenty of attractive options in the shot market. Spaniard Pablo Sarabia leads the pack with 2.35 shots per 90, with livewire Daniel Podence just behind with 2.19. Ruben Neves is known for his spectacular repertoire of screamers, with the Portuguese international averaging 1.91 shots per 90. With no players averaging more than 0.86 SOT per game, it is easy to see why Wolves are so feeble in front of goal.
Arsenal vs Wolves Goals and Assists Stats
Goals all over the pitch
Arsenal boast four players in double-digits for goals – Ødegaard (15), Martinelli (15), Saka (13) and Jesus (10). With the goals spread out throughout the team, Arsenal are always an attractive team to back to score.
Lack of goals a problem
On the other end of the spectrum, you have a Wolves side desperately in need of a striker. Midfielders Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence top the goalscoring charts with six. Hwang Hee-Chan and Pablo Sarabia have been disappointing since joining, combining for a measly four goals.
Arsenal vs Wolves Passing Stats
Pass, Pass, Pass
Arsenal have always been renowned for their distinctive, easy on the eye football under Arsene Wenger, and Mikel Arteta has continued this, with his side averaging 59.5% possession per game. After signing from London rivals in January, Jorginho has been conducting play from deep, averaging 77.4 passes per 90. He seems to take the passing burden off of the defence, with Gabriel averaging 61.4 passes per 90 and Ben White only 58.1.
Neves doing it all
Wolves average exactly 50% possession per game. Ruben Neves is the main midfield orchestra, passing the ball 58.2 times per game, closely followed by centre backs Max Kilman (56.2) and Nathan Collins (55.6).
Arsenal Cards and Fouls Stats
Fouls from the front
Arsenal’s good discipline has already been mentioned, and this is even more evident when looking at the foul statistics, with only Gabriel Jesus (1.92 fouls per 90) and Bukayo Saka (1.24) averaging more than a foul per game. These two are also fouled regularly with Jesus (2.51 drawn per game) and Saka (1.82) winning freekicks for Arteta’s side. The silky midfield maestro Jorginho is also fouled quite often (2.12).
Wolves should be able to create some set piece opportunities against the Gunners and do have some skilled dribblers despite their lack of cutting edge. Joao Gomes has been on the receiving end of over 2.5 fouls per game this season in the Premier League while Adama Traore is always someone who can provoke opposition defenders into sinning,
Arsenal vs Wolves Key Matchups
Kieran Tierney vs Adama Traore
Jorginho vs Joao Gomes
Bukayo Saka vs Nelson Semedo
Wolves Cards and Fouls Stats
Gomes to foul
After signing from Flamengo in January, Joao Gomes has shown he is not afraid of a challenge, fouling 2.22 times per 90, picking up five cards in six starts. He is always involved in the action, also drawing 2.54 fouls per game. Nelson Semedo is also one to overstep the mark, being shown 11 yellow cards and one red in 30 starts – making 1.60 fouls per 90.
Bukayo Saka has been one of the more gifted dribblers in the league this season and will want to finish the campaign with a flourish. Jorginho, however, is certainly one to keep an eye on having been fouled over twice per game in a deep lying midfield role.
Arsenal vs Wolves Key Matchups
Toti vs Bukayo Saka
Joao Gomes vs Granit Xhaka
Adama Traore vs Kieran Tierney
Arsenal vs Wolves Bet Builder tips and picks of the pack
The title may well be gone for Arsenal, but they’ll be looking to make a point here. This should be a solid game for a bet builder as a result, and my thoughts can be found below.
Arsenal vs Wolves
28th May
kick off 16:30 Arsenal to win
Arsenal have won 13/18 home games and will look to end the campaign strong. They host a Wolves side who sit in the bottom 3 for away form, winning twice and
scoring 12 in 18 games on their travels.
Bukayo Saka to score or assistThe youngster is in stellar form this season, scoring 13 league goals and registering 11 assists. He has recently signed a bumper new contract so will be keen to showcase his talents and prove his worth. He has the bonus of being on penalties
Over 1.5 GoalsArsenal rank 2nd for home goals, scoring 48 in 18 games at an average of 2.66
goals when playing in front of their home fans. Wolves have conceded 33 in 18 away games at an average of 1.83
Wolves to receive the most cardsArsenal only average 1.38 cards per game whilst drawing 2.3. Wolves average 2.46 cards per game
