Arsenal kick off their 2024-25 Premier League marketing campaign taking part in host to Wolves on the Emirates. Will this be the yr for the Gunners? The membership have been adrift from the Premier League pinnacle for greater than 20 years. They’ve come agonizingly shut the final two seasons, ending second to 115 Prices FC Manchester Metropolis. There are solely so many alternative methods you may rearrange the phrases — everyone knows how good Arsenal are, what the expectations are, and what must be achieved. Mercifully, it’s time to play the video games.
Wolves performed Arsenal shut twice final season. On the Emirates, the Gunners scored two targets contained in the opening quarter-hour solely to be stymied for the remainder of the match and made to sweat out the win by a Matheus Cunha 86th minute aim. Arsenal prevailed 2-0 at Molineux final spring with Leandro Trossard scoring within the forty fifth minute and Martin Ødegaard netting within the ninety fifth.
It’s necessary that the Gunners get off to a superb begin. With the margins on the prime as skinny as they’re, any slip-up may very well be the distinction come Could. You assume that Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool are going to drop factors (and also you hope to take a good few off them), however you’ve obtained restricted wiggle-room. Matches on the Emirates in opposition to opponents that ought to end within the backside half are basically must-win.
Banking factors is especially necessary for Arsenal this season as a result of the membership have a troublesome opening slate of video games. After at the moment, the Gunners are away to Aston Villa, house to what may very well be a tough Brighton facet, away to Spurs, away to Metropolis. Whereas these matches not going in addition to you’d hope wouldn’t be the death-knell for the season, the psychological impact of feeling behind the eight-ball may make issues harder. After all, there may be additionally the chance that Arsenal do very well of their powerful opening run of matches, giving themselves a psychological raise heading into the meat of the season.
However that’s all wanting previous at the moment’s match in opposition to Wolves, which Arsenal can’t do. That is the Premier League, when you overlook an opponent, even a weaker one at house, they could get ‘ya. Wolves misplaced Pedro Neto and Max Kilman this summer season and haven’t changed them with demonstrated high quality, however the membership have added some younger expertise. Mikel Arteta’s facet can’t underestimate the hazard posed by younger gamers desirous to make a reputation for themselves who don’t know sufficient to be cowed by the mighty Arsenal and the Emirates crowd. Gary O’Neil confirmed himself to be a realistic supervisor final season. He’ll set his facet as much as be annoying and obstinate.
O’Neil has a little bit of a variety headache as a result of Matheus Cunha, Jorgen Strand Larsen (the on-loan striker Wolves added this summer season), and Daniel Podence all have slight health points. Younger attackers Leon Chiwome and Enso Gonzalez are each out. Skilled right-side participant Nelson Semedo is suspended for the primary three matches of the season as a result of he obtained a straight pink card in opposition to Liverpool on the ultimate day of final yr.
Mikel Arteta’s facet is usually match to begin the season. Fabio Vieira has been coping with a slight hip problem and is probably not match sufficient to make the matchday squad. Jurrien Timber has been confirmed out there for choice after a “load administration” foot drawback saved him out on the finish of preseason. Takehiro Tomiyasu is out for a number of weeks with a knee drawback. Kieran Tierney, who’s technically on the Arsenal roster proper now, continues to be recovering from the hamstring tear he suffered on the Euros.
Arsenal – Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Rice, Ødegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz
⚪️
Saliba on the again
Odegaard pulling the strings
✊ Havertz leads the roadSeeking to begin robust – COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 17, 2024
Wolves – Sa, Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri, Bellegarde, Lemina, J. Gomes, R. Gomes, Hwang, Strand Larsen
WHO: Arsenal vs Wolverhampton
WHAT: Premier League MW1
WHERE: The Emirates Stadium, London
WHEN: Saturday, August seventeenth, 7 am PT | 10 am ET | 3 pm BST
HOW TO WATCH: Broadcast reside on the USA Community. Streaming on NBCSports.com
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