Arsenal showed two sides to their character last week when they followed up a thumping 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph at London rivals Chelsea, though both performances suggested the Gunners have staying power in this season’s Premier League title race. Wolves meanwhile, have pocketed on point from the last 12 on offer and few would back them to upset the odds against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal today.
You can dive straight into our stats pack for this evening’s game below which contains useful info on shots, shots on target, corners, cards, fouls, xG and more from the teams’ Premier League campaigns. Hopefully, you’ll find our research and my Guide on how to utilise it of use when putting your bet builders for the game together.
Predicted Lineups
Wolves have major issues in attack today with Sasa Kalajdzic, Raul Jimenez, Chiquinho and Pedro Neto out injured and Diego Costa still suspended.
Nelson Semedo returns at the back following a recent ban, however, Portuguese star Matheus Nunes is in a race to be fit in midfield.
Emile Smith-Rowe is listed as Arsenal’s only confirmed absentee ahead of today’s game, though Takehiro Tomiyasu is a doubt with a muscular complaint.
Mikel Arteta made sweeping changes to his XI for Wednesday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat at home to Brighton, though all of Arsenal’s big guns should slot back into the team this evening.
Team Stats
With a meagre 0.57 goals scored per 90 minutes, Wolves are the lowest-scoring team in the Premier League this season and with so many attackers out this afternoon, it’s difficult to see how they can improve their output against Arsenal.
Wanderers’ 1.50 xG (p/90) suggests they should have bagged more by now, though their squad isn’t exactly packed with confident chance finishers. Interestingly, Wolves rank 7th in the division for total cards collected, though only Forest have picked up more cards in home matches than Wanderers so far (19).
Arsenal’s underlying stats for the 2022/23 campaign provide compelling evidence to suggest they are in the title mix on merit, though it’s also curious to note that the Gunners don’t dominate the division in any metric bar league position – which is kind of important, granted.
Mikel Arteta’s title hopefuls rank third for both shots (16.85) and shots on target (6.69) per 90, while Man City have a higher xG. Defensively, City also outdo them for attempts conceded (6.92 to 7.77).
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Wolves have a nifty collection of tricky wingers and wide attackers in their ranks, several of whom have been posting numbers of interest in the shot markets.
Goncalo Guedes (2.25 shots p/90) lodged two of Wanderers’ eight attempts in last weekend’s defeat to Brighton, while Daniel Podence (1.99) has mustered at least one attempt in 11 of his 14 Premier League appearances since the summer.
Deep-lying midfielder Ruben Neves has gone shot-crazy in recent weeks, clocking at least three of them in three of his last four runouts in the league. He might be a strong option at longer odds today.
It’s best to keep things simple when digging around in Arsenal’s ranks for players with shot-market potential and any member of the Gunners’ superb front four are worthy of inclusion today.
Gabriel Jesus has been hitting 1.59 shots on target per 90 this term and he clocked the latest of those at Chelsea last weekend. Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all chipped in to build Arsenal’s tally of 14 shots at Stamford Bridge against the Blues.
Wolves have been conceding 13.1 attempts per Premier League home fixture in 2022/23, so all four of Arsenal’s attackers should have opportunities to run up decent numbers this evening.
Player Goals and Assists
Just four different Wolves players have found the net in the Premier League this season and the options likely to populate their forward line this evening, Daniel Podence, Goncalo Guedes, Adama Traore and Hwang Hee-Chan have plundered a grand total of four league goals between them since August.
Ruben Neves scored from the spot in Wanderers’ 2-2 draw with Brighton last week and his penalty kick duties and ability to hit the target from range have allowed him to bag three goals in his last five league starts.
Brazilians Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli are tied as Arsenal’s leading scorers with five Premier League goals each, while the other members of the Gunners’ attacking quartet, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, are next in line with four each.
All four players tend to do their best work at the Emirates, however, and it’s interesting to note that Arsenal have scored exactly once in four of their last five Premier League assignments on the road.
Four of Arsenals’ last six strikes on their travels came from Gabriel Magalhaes, Granit Xhaka, William Saliba and Fabio Vieira, with Saka and Jesus chipping in with one each.
Wolves Cards
Ruben Neves could be a protagonist worth watching from a couple of angles today and alongside his shooting prowess, the Portuguese midfielder is the outstanding pick from Wolves’ ranks in the card markets.
Neves has been carded six times already in the Premier League this term and the 25-year-old was booked in last year’s corresponding fixture against Arsenal at Molineux. Elsewhere, centre-half Nathan Collins (three cards) and right-back Nelson Semedo (three yellows, one red) are also worth your attention this evening.
Quicksilver Brazilian pair Gabriel Jesus (fouled 2.88 times p/90) and Gabriel Martinelli (1.57 p/90) have been drawing fouls aplenty from frustrated markers this season and both attackers could have a target on their backs again today with Collins and Semedo on the prowl.
In midfield, Martin Odegaard will be doing most of his creative work from central positions and that should put him on Ruben Neves’ hit list.
Match-Ups to watch
Ruben Neves vs Martin Odegaard
Nathan Collins vs Gabriel Jesus
Nelson Semedo vs Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal Cards
Arsenal have been the Premier League’s third-most possession-hungry team this season (57.7% possession on average), so expect Wolves to play on the counter this evening.
Wolves’ pace on the break could create a problem or two for William Saliba (four cards), Ben White (three cards) and Granit Xhaka (two cards) on fast turnovers. Expect tactical fouls from all three if Arsenal are over-exposed.
It’s in that counter-attacker realm where Wolves’ best candidates to draw fouls are found today. Goncalo Guedes (fouled 3.28 times p/90) and Adama Traore (fouled 1.86 times p90) in particular have pace to burn, and while both lack in end product, they are effective dribblers to a point.
Guedes’ tussle with William Saliba could draw attention from referee Stuart Atwell while Ben White will be determined not to be left in the dust Hwang Hee-Chan (fouled 1.94 times p/90) down the Wanderers’ left. Traore meanwhile, could have Granit Xhaka on his case when the latter shuffles left to aid Zinchenko during the Gunners’ defensive phases.
Match-Ups to watch
William Saliba vs Goncalo Guedes
Ben White vs Hwang Hee-Chan
Granit Xhaka vs Adama Traore
