Arsenal’s season has been rather derailed in January as they have suffered big setbacks in all three domestic competitions. Anything but a win against Wolves today could see them drop to a double-digit net deficit from league leaders Liverpool.
By Neel Shelat
Arsenal’s recent domestic struggles
Arsenal have won just one of their last five domestic matches, dropping four points in the Premier League and suffering setbacks in both cup competitions.
Their disappointing run of form started with a score draw at Brighton, which was followed by two cup defeats. First, Newcastle United took away a two-goal lead from the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, and then Manchester United scored a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory to send Arsenal crashing out of the third round of the FA Cup. The Gunners did register big xG tallies in excess of 3 in both of those games, so it was their finishing that let them down.
Arsenal did not dominate their next two matches quite as much. They did edge out a crucial North London derby victory over Tottenham but then squandered a two-goal lead against Aston Villa to register their eighth draw of the Premier League season.
Wolves reinvigorated after Vitor Pereira’s arrival
Wolverhampton Wanderers spent the vast majority of the first half of the season in the relegation zone and had a single-digit points tally when Gary O’Neil was sacked before Christmas. Few were optimistic about Vitor Pereira’s ability to turn things around when he was brought in from Al Shabab, but he has proven the doubters wrong so far.
Wolves defeated Leicester City and Manchester United in their first two matches under the new head coach to surge out of the relegation zone. They also went on to take a point off Tottenham Hotspur and defeat Bristol City in the FA Cup’s third round. Although they have lost their last three league games, that should not be too big a cause for concern since each of their opponents is in the current top six.
Pereira has hardly overseen a tactical overhaul as he is using the same 3-4-2-1 formation that O’Neil often deployed, but he has shored up the defence a bit and thus improved the team’s counterattacking threat.
Cunha the key against Arsenal’s weakened right side
Injuries have been a big reason behind Arsenal’s drop in form. Their right side has been particularly affected of late as Bukayo Saka and Ben White have remained unavailable while Ethan Nwaneri missed a few matches, Gabriel Jesus suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the FA Cup and William Saliba picked up a slight hamstring issue in training ahead of their last league game.
While Riccardo Calafiori’s return should make up for Myles Lewis-Skelly’s potential absence at left back, Wolves will surely look to target the right side of Arsenal’s defence where Thomas Partey may have to start at right back as Jurriën Timber moves to centre-back. Star attacker Matheus Cunha – the subject of a lot of interest in the transfer window – will be looking forward to adding to his tally of 14 league goal involvements.
Prediction
Despite their injury issues, Arsenal should have enough to see out an eighth-straight head-to-head victory over Wolves.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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