Arsenal Aims To Extend Premier League Lead Against Struggling Wolves In November Clash

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Arsenal's recent form has seen their lead at the top of the Premier League shrink to just two points. Despite winning two of their last four matches, a draw with Chelsea and a loss to Aston Villa have allowed Manchester City to close in. Arsenal will face Wolves on Saturday, who are currently at the bottom of the league without a win this season.

The Gunners have been dominant at home, aiming for their fifth consecutive Premier League victory at Emirates Stadium. They have also won their last seven home games against teams starting the day in the bottom three. Arsenal's recent 3-0 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League adds to their confidence as they prepare to host Wolves.

Wolves have struggled this season, failing to secure a win under new manager Rob Edwards. They are eight points behind Burnley and 13 points from safety. The Opta supercomputer predicts a 99.1% chance of relegation for Wolves, who have not won in their last 19 Premier League matches.

This upcoming match marks the 42nd Premier League encounter between the top and bottom teams. Historically, league leaders have won 30 out of these 41 matches. Wolves, however, have managed two victories against Manchester United in similar situations before but are unlikely to repeat such feats after a recent heavy defeat by United.

Arsenal's attacking prowess is evident as they have scored in each of their last 35 meetings with Wolves across all competitions. This streak is only surpassed by Wrexham's record against Darlington. Arsenal's current run against Wolves includes eight consecutive wins, their longest streak since defeating Burnley ten times between 2010 and 2019.

Key Players to Watch

Noni Madueke is one to watch for Arsenal. He has scored four goals in his two Premier League starts against Wolves, including a hat-trick for Chelsea last season. His recent performance against Brugge further boosts his chances of starting on Saturday. Madueke has yet to score or assist in the Premier League for Arsenal but could change that against Wolves.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde stands out for Wolves after scoring his first Premier League goal against Manchester United recently. It was also Wolves' first goal in nearly ten hours of league play. Bellegarde has been a consistent threat from midfield with ten shots this season, second only to two other teammates.

Defensive Challenges and Opportunities

Arsenal's defence remains strong despite recent challenges due to injuries to key players like Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. They still boast the best defensive record in the league but have conceded six goals in their last five games compared to just three in their first ten matches this season.

Wolves' defence has been porous, conceding 33 goals despite an expected goals-against (xG) tally of only 23.5. Their struggles are compounded by an inability to convert chances into goals, having scored just eight times from an xG of 13.2.

The upcoming match presents Arsenal with an opportunity to solidify their position at the top while offering Wolves another chance to break their winless streak and improve their standing in the league table.