Game Week 16 predictions: Arsenal to beat Wolves at the Molineux

Gabriel Martinelli can trouble Wolves all day on Saturday but will the hosts have answer to his questions? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Wolves vs Arsenal

Molineux

8:45pm

It’s a late night fixture as the premier league tries to accommodate as many fixtures as possible ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup break and the final fixture of eight Saturday events is at the Molineux with the current league leaders traveling to entertain Wolves.

Will Arsenal still be on top by the time they kick off here? It’s left to be seen with City at home to the Bees earlier in the day but the Gunners will be happy to take their chance to return to the summit with a win over Wolves.

Arsenal recorded a big win at Chelsea last weekend with Gabriel Meghaeles bundling the ball over the line off a Bukayo Saka corner kick. The Brazilian defender was left out of the World Cup squad but his comrades, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus made the trip.

Wolves has a new manager, former Spanish Goalkeeper and Sevilla manager Julien Lopetegui will start his reigns this weekend and it looks like Wolves have a thing with goalkeepers as Nuno Espirito Santo was also a former goalkeeper.

Wolves currently sit in the relegation zone, level on points with bottom club Nottingham Forest but could win here and hope either of Bournemouth and Southampton don’t get a point this weekend so they can go into the break outside the drop zone.

How can Wolves stop a relentless Arsenal? They have to believe and get the fans behind them. Arsenal will use the width to trouble Wolves as they have done to teams all season and Martinelli will be immense on the left as well as Saka on the right.

Wolves can also enjoy a new manager bounce and go all out against the Gunners; Diego Costa continues to serve his ban while Raul Jimenez is still out injured. The battle in the middle of the pack is crucial, Wolves must not lose second balls as that is where the Gunners thrive.

Arsenal beat Wolves home and away last season and Wolves will not want a repeat of that but do they have what it takes to stay disciplined against Jesus the chief orchestrator? Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka have formed a partnership to devastating effects, will Wolves have the answer on Saturday?

Verdict: Arsenal to win