Arsenal FC have a very interesting final challenge before they head into the boring international break. They’ll host plucky upstart Wolverhampton Wanderers, who got off to a strong start this season. Then the reality of recent promotion to the top flight set in and they have struggled. Wolves really need a result here as they head into the Sunday showdown having lost their last three.
Let’s take a look at who is fit and who is unavailable through injury for the fixture at the Emirates.
Starting with the hosts, forward Danny Welbeck suffered a serious ankle injury against Sporting Lisbon in midweek, while defender Stephan Lichtsteiner is also out, having exited the same game early due to a knock that some have described as a muscle problem.
In the words of Homer Simpson: “Nacho Nacho Nacho Man! I want to be a Nacho Man!” It looks like we will see the return of Nacho Monreal soon from his hamstring injury, but it probably won’t happen in time for this one. Long term injury absentees for Arsenal include Mohamed Elneny (hamstring), Laurent Koscielny (achilles) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin).
For the midlands club, Diogo Jota is fit after recovering from a hamstring problem. Wolverhampton have no injury doubts and neither team has anybody suspended.
Arsenal vs Wolves FYIs
Arsenal Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kickoff: Sunday, November 11, 430 pm local, 11:30 am EST, Emirates Stadium
TV: NBC Sports
Odds via Odds Shark: Arsenal 4/7 Draw 16/5 Wolves 9/2
Prediction: Arsenal 2, Wolves 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.