Arsenal will look to capitalize on slip-ups by Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur and boost their top-four prospects when they travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday.
After a miserable start, the Gunners have turned their fortunes around in recent months and find themselves in firm contention to secure Champions League football next season.
The north London club are currently sixth with 36 points, four points behind West Ham United with three games in hand.
The last time Arsenal traveled to the Molineux, they came away empty-handed following a 2-1 defeat.
Mikel Arteta has almost a full squad at his disposal, with Mohamed Elneny the only absentee. The Egyptian will not be considered for this game after his exploits at the AFCON.
Takehiro Tomiyasu faces a late fitness test, and his availablility will depend on whether Arteta is willing to take a slight risk. Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey have both served their suspensions and will return to the squad, providing a much-needed boost in midfield.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sead Kolasinac, Pablo Mari, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and Folarin Balogun left the club either on loan or permanent transfers in January.
Goalkeeper
Aaron Ramsdale has been one of Arsenal’s best players this season, making the goalkeeping spot his own following his arrival from Sheffield United. The England international has kept 10 clean sheets in the league so far.
Defenders
Gabriel and Ben White will resume their partnership at the heart of the Arsenal defence. The two have slowly developed a firm understanding at the back and will have an important role to play over the rest of the season.
Kieran Tierney will continue at left-back in the Arsenal lineup, ahead of Nuno Tavares. The Scotsman has started in each of Arsenal’s last six games after a brief period on the sidelines due to injury.
If Tomiyasu is fit, he will start at right-back in the Arsenal lineup. But if Arteta doesn’t want to risk the Japanese, Cedric Soares could deputize.
Midfielders
With Xhaka and Partey back, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Emile Smith Rowe should drop to the bench. Xhaka has struggled for form this season and time is running out for the Swiss to prove his worth to Arteta, who is not shy in wielding the axe.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli will likely start on the flanks with Martin Odegaard occupying his favoured No. 10 position.
Attackers
Arsenal are alarmingly short on options in attack following Aubameyang’s move to Barcelona and Balogun’s loan to Middlesbrough.
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are the only real striking options at Arteta’s disposal, although Nicolas Pepe has been used as a centre-forward in the past.
But the Ivorian has dropped down the pecking order under Arteta, while Nketiah does not really offer much, meaning Lacazette will be the manager’s preferred option to lead the Arsenal lineup.
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