Wolves v Arsenal predictions: Home defence could spike Gunners at Molineux

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Wolves v Arsenal in the Premier League on Thursday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 7.45pm Thursday

Best bet

Wolves draw no bet
1pt 6-4 bet365, Betfred

Team news

Wolves
Romain Saiss should return to the defence after playing at the Africa Cup of Nations but Francisco Trincao is doubtful and Jonny, Pedro Neto, Willy Boly, Yerson Mosquera and Hwang Hee-Chan are injured.

Arsenal
Mohamed Elneny misses out after his involvement in Sunday's Afcon final but Nicolas Pepe has returned from the tournament. Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are back from bans. Ben White may start at right-back as Takehiro Tomiyasu and Cedric Soares are doubtful.

Match preview

Arsenal have scored just once in five matches in 2022 and Mikel Arteta's men may struggle to rediscover their touch in front of goal against an impressive Wolves defence at Molineux.

The Gunners won plenty of plaudits but no points for their display in a 2-1 home defeat to Premier League leaders Manchester City on New Year's Day.

Since then, however, they have failed to find the net in a 1-0 FA Cup third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest, a 2-0 aggregate loss to Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-finals, and a league stalemate against bottom club Burnley.

Senior striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, comfortably Arsenal's leading goalscorer since he joined the club in January 2018, left for Barcelona after falling out with Arteta so there is pressure on the manager to revitalise his attacking unit quickly.

Last month's cup exits to Forest and Liverpool, coupled with Arsenal's failure to qualify for Europe, leaves finishing in the top four as the sole focus for the Gunners.

Manchester United, Tottenham and West Ham are their main rivals for fourth spot, but Wolves's fine run of form means they start Thursday's game just two points behind Arsenal, both having played 21 matches.

Despite their winless start to the new year, Arsenal are favourites to take three points at Molineux. Since Wolves returned to the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo in 2018-19 they have won three and drawn two of their six meetings with the Gunners, who were beaten 2-1 at home and away last season.

They had David Luiz and goalkeeper Bernd Leno sent off in last year's clash at Molineux and ill discipline continues to hamper the north London side. Centre-back Gabriel was shown a needless red card just before the hour mark against champions City on New Year's Day and Granit Xhaka was dismissed in the 24th minute of the EFL Cup semi-final first leg at Anfield.

That capacity for self-destruction, along with their recent goal drought and poor record against Wolves, means Arsenal should be opposed at the prices, particularly given how few goals have been scored in Wolves's clashes with top-seven teams.

Bruno Lage's men have faced teams above them in the table seven times this season and all seven have produced binary scorelines: 1-0 defeats to City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham, 1-0 wins over United at Old Trafford and West Ham, and a goalless draw at home to Chelsea.

Wolves had won five of their previous six games in all competitions before Saturday's disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Norwich in the FA Cup and they should be strengthened by the return of Morocco defender Romain Saiss from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Arsenal have lost five of their ten away matches in the league this term and Molineux could prove to be another tough venue for a team struggling for confidence in front of goal.

Key stat

All seven of Wolves's matches against teams above them in the table have ended with under 1.5 goals.

Inside info

Wolves

Penalty taker Raul Jimenez
Free-kick wizard Ruben Neves
Set-piece aerial threat Romain Saiss
Card magnet Ruben Neves

Arsenal

Penalty taker Alexandre Lacazette
Free-kick wizardMartin Odegaard
Set-piece aerial threatGabriel
Card magnetGranit Xhaka

Not got a bet365 account? Bet £10 & get £50 in free bets

Open account offer. Minimum deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits/T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport