Morning all.
Early yesterday evening, Arsenal FC announced that Sir Chips Keswick had passed away. He was a lifelong Arsenal fan who became a board member in 2005 before replacing Peter Hill-Wood as club Chairman in 2013. Seven seasons later and just after celebrating his 80th birthday, he retired. Arsenal FC have a tribute to Sir Chips on the official site.
RIP Sir Chips…
So this is it then, six games left and six wins needed. That might not turn out to be enough but it would be a positive end to the season. What would be awful is if we just limp towards the end of May so let’s go out with a bang instead. It’s not going to be easy but Premier League football shouldn’t be easy. Wolves won’t make it easy that’s for sure.
Gary O’Neil is said to be “tactically meticulous” so Mikel Arteta will have to be at his best, as will the players he selects. This is no time for any player to feel sorry for themselves after Wednesday defeat in Germany, in fact it’s totally the opposite. This game is about showing we as a team/squad are resilient and we have a winning mentality.
During his pre match press conference, Mikel Arteta said:
I’m fully focused on the times that we have ahead of us with six games to go. We are a game behind City and we’re going to give it a real go. The context is clear. If we win we are top of the league. That’s the context, we don’t need anything else to be motivated or to go to that game with our minds clear and our purpose very, very clear.”
Wolves injuries:
Matheus Cunha and Nelson Semedo are both sidelined, as is Craig Dawson, Pedro Neto and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. Rayan Ait-Nouri, Hee-chan Hwang and Pablo Sarabia are doubts.
Gary O’Neil said he has just 10 senior players capable of lasting the 90 minutes, adding:
It’s probably the worst situation we’ve been in, but the positives to come from it are that there’s loads of young players involved [against Arsenal]. Maybe a debut or two from the start for some of the younger lads, and the fact we’re on 43 points already. We’re not on 27 fighting for our lives. I am really positive about the situation. There’s a lot of stuff we can do and we’re still aiming to beat another team in the top six.
As said yesterday, not many clubs win at Molineux, not even Man City. However, with so many players out injured, I’d like to think Mikel Arteta’s players can go out there tonight and get a result. A draw won’t do so chances when they come simply have to be taken. Easy to say I know but there’s no room for errors either end of the pitch. We’re in last chance saloon stage of the season and have to be ready should City and/or Liverpool slip up.
Wolves have shown tactical versatility this season, regularly switching between a back three and back four, but of late 3-4-2-1 appears to be O’Neil’s favoured formation. Within that framework they are excellent at crowding space inside the engine room. Wolves’ two industrious central midfielders are well supported by the three forwards ahead of them, who are happy to drop back out of possession. It is also not unusual to see one of their spare centre-backs pushing into the midfield too.
This tactic helps Wolves turn over the ball inside the middle third before launching quick transitions. They are a side that will explode into life on those counter-attacks, and cause opponents problems. They have had the second-highest number of shots from fast breaks in 2023/24. One of the words I’d use to describe O’Neil’s style of play is aggressive – Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes both rank inside the top 10 for tackles won. They are also very athletic, particularly from turnovers where they encourage players to sprint forward at pace to get inside the box.
According to TransferMarket, Wolves squad is valued around £350 million whilst Arsenal’s is around £1.12 billion.
Gary O’Neil stepped foot into senior management on the 30th August 2022 as caretaker manager at Bournemouth. He left for a permanent position at Wolves a year later and in that short time has turned them into a much better team. As said at the beginning of this post, he’s said to be tactically meticulous. Similar words have been used in the same sentence as Mikel Arteta’s name so today should be an interesting battle of minds.
Lastly, Jurrien Timber will play for the under 21’s against Blackburn on Monday night which is great for him and the club.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico and Co
There are bound to be tired legs and tired minds from Wednesday so I wonder if Mikel will go with the usual crowd or mix it up?
It’s not in his style to rotate particularly at this time of the season with no room for error, but maybe Nketiah has a point to prove and might be an optional start? He could start with him and take him off if it doesn’t work because bringing him on as a sub never works.
Good morning Rico.
It’s a biggy no doubt about that. What greater motivation could there be than the knowledge that a win this evening will put us back at the top of the league.
Timber is the only member of the first team squad who is not available for selection. With just six games to go that is some achievement for our medical staff. Touch wood, we get no further injuries.
Morning Kev, Cicero.
I think Arteta will start with his strongest and then rotate if the game goes to plan. However, Wolves will make it very tough I think, even with a few injuries.
A fully fit squad is remarkable Cicero, shame most of them look knackered. 😜
So it’s goodbye Mr Chips,seriously RIP,I read over on Arseblog News he was friendly with the King and Queen.
I read that too, yet never knew they were/are so close.
Afternoon all, match started yet? Getting tired waiting 😀
Let’s get Trossard back up front, Partey in midfield along with Rice. Need to shake up a little after attacking threat looking tired.
I’d be for those moves Andrew, I’d like to see Nelson in at some stage too, especially if Wolves do tire.
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Jesus,Trossard.
again the same mistake in the line up….
Jesus? Well I hope he has a great game… Arsenal too of course..
Midfield Jm?
It’s a bit zzzzzzz
Nice miskick Tross. Do we care? Absolutely not…
If you don’t shoot you don’t score. Trossard did and look what happened! Fortunate for sure but you know what fortune favours….?
Evening all, welcome to another déjà view game I think.
Well I thought it was a foul and a booking for foul on Havertz, but nothing given and Rice gets booked! Great perseverance from Jesus, he likes being on floor 🙂
Very much Deja vu Wavy.
The guy was booked for the Havertz foul Andrew, just a few moments after he’d received treatment. I thought var might upgrade it to a red. Then again….
Phew, nice finish Odegaard.
With a fully fit squad, that would have been a tough tough fixture. It was tough anyway..
Night guys.
Fair enough, missed the booking. Odegaard must be fittest player, always chasing, although speedy Rice run near end, sure he could do that more. Wonderful sneaky finish, great result, night rico, all
Did you like the exhibition? I am not. When Arsenal finds a team that defends well and is not technically inferior, they do badly (this was not the case). It lacks depth and solutions, when the repeated game doesn’t work. Then you don’t shoot because you don’t have confidence in the shot. And there are some players with more minutes than they should have to perform well.
Two goals, a clean sheet, three points and back to the top of the table! 🔔🔔
Good night Gooners….everywhere. 😴
War of attrition , but got through it unscathed so it seemed. one miskick and a last gasp second . However job done 3 points , get on the coach and drive home.
Interesting that the commentators on Sky mentioned that Arsenal played an U23 game this week (friendly perhaps?) and that Timber played.
Might have been behind closed doors?
Glad to see Trossard start, I never understand why we buy a player with premier league experience to fill a hole then have him sit on the bench.
As others have said, a win and a clean sheet is all we can ask for.
Kev, Timber is playing in tomorrow night’s under 21 game against Blackburn. His first game back.
New post up.