New Delhi: Arsenal and Wolves will be facing each other in the opening matchday of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Both the teams will be looking to make the best possible start to their campaign as the two sides have contrasting approaches and goals for this season. Mikel Arteta truly has developed this Arsenal side over the course of last two seasons, as they have looked like the only team that came close to threatening Manchester City’s dominance in the past two campaigns.
However, they need to do much more than that to win the league as competing against top English clubs isn’t an easy task. There’s no better way than imposing authority by winning your opening game and carrying that form till the end, which has evidently been Arsenal’s problem in the past two seasons.
However, as for Wolves, they truly struggled last campaign as they managed to finish 14th, which clearly indicates that their main goal for the next season would be to finish in the top half of the table. They need to make a fresh and steady start, as a lot depends on the initial stages of their campaign that could prove pivotal for Gary O’neil’s side.
Team news
It was confirmed that few of the Wolves’ main squad players will be missing the opening match against Arsenal, as both Matheus Cunha and Daniel Podence will miss out due to injuries. However, their star player from last season, Hee-Chan Hwang, will be available to play in the wider areas and he will be looking to make an impact against the Gunners to set the tone for his side.
On the other hand, Arsenal will be missing Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney due to injuries, while it is still not confirmed if Jurien Timber will be joining the squad for the opening game.
Predicted lineups
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Arsenal had a good summer transfer window where they managed make some marquee signings, one of them being the young Italian defender from Bologna, Riccardo Calafiori. With the arrival of the solid defender, Arsenal have managed to strengthen their defence further, as the Italian already looks like a regular starter for the gunners as a defensive line consisting the likes of Calafiori and Saliba might just turn out to be the best backline in the league.
Arsenal XI: (4-3-3) David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Fabio Vieira, Martin Odegaard; Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 10: Jorgen Strand Larsen of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Rayo Vallecano at Molineux on August 10, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
Wolves also made some decent signings this season. One of their new signings, Jorgen Strand Larsen will be looking to make an impact as he might make his Preier League Debut against a very strong Arsenal side.
Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: (4-1-4-1) Jose Sa; Nelson Semedo, Craig Dawson, Santiago Buena, Rayan Ait Nouri; Boubacar Traore; Pablo Sarabia, Mario Lemina, Thomas Doyle, Hee-Chan Hwang; Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Early Predictions
Arsenal have looked good over the past couple of games that they have played and it looks likely that the Gunners would be willing to give themselves the best possible start. However, Wolves are certainly a side that can pull off an upset, just that it might not come against Mikel Arteta’s side as Arsenal are likely to win the match 2-0.
As we head towards the opening matchday of Premier League, let’s have a look at how Arsenal and Wolves plan to make the perfect start to their 2024/25 campiagn. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
