Arsenal vs Wolves key battles

Arsenal will be aiming to make it three Premier League wins on the bounce on Saturday when they entertain Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners romped into the last 16 of the Champions League in style with a 6-0 demolition of RC Lens at home on Wednesday evening. The north London side headed into the game against Lens off the back of a 1-0 win over Brentford in the Premier League.

The Wanderers, on the other hand, lost 3-2 to Fulham on Monday evening in the Premier League. They are 12th in the table with 15 points, and Gary O’Neil will expect a better performance from his boys at the weekend if they are to get a positive result at the Emirates.

On that note, let us take a look at the key battles that could define the outcome of this game.

#Jean-Ricner Bellegarde vs Kai Havertz

Wolves’ gut-wrenching defeat to Fulham was compounded by the suspensions to Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina. Both Gomes and Lemina have been key to the progress Wolves have made in recent weeks but, after collecting their fifth cautions of the season, will not be available for selection against Arsenal. So, the onus of controlling the play in midfield will fall on the shoulders of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.

Following his summer move from RC Strasbourg, Bellegarde has caused real excitement amongst the Wolves supporters with his drive with the ball, technical skills and tenacity. In just five league appearances, he has registered a goal and an assist. The 25-year-old, however, faces arguably the biggest test in his fledgling Premier League career as he could come up against Kai Havertz.

Havertz’s confidence will be high heading into the game after back-to-back strikes against Brentford and Lens, respectively. The German is finally showing signs of turning a corner after a quiet start to life at Arsenal, and he will be keen to get on the scoresheet for the third game running—something Bellegarde should not allow Havertz to do.

#Bukayo Saka vs Rayan Ait-Nouri

Bukayo Saka was on the scoresheet Wednesday as Arsenal smashed Lens 6-0 in the Champions League. While he didn’t know much about his goal, the winger set up Gabriel Jesus’ strike with outstanding technique and footwork. The England international, as a result, will be highly motivated to help Arsenal to all three points against Wolves.

Starting on the right flank, Saka will look to cause all kinds of problems for the Wolves backline, which is likely to have Rayan Ait-Nouri start at left wing-back. Having started the season well, Ait-Nouri will be tasked with the responsibility of stopping Saka from entering the box. Considering Saka’s unpredictable nature to go both ways, the Wolves wing-back will have his task cut out at the Emirates Stadium.

A lot will depend on Ait-Nouri’s performance against Saka on Saturday if Wolves are to return home with a positive result.

#Hwang Hee-chan vs William Saliba

Hwang Hee-chan has been Wolves’ best player so far this season. He is the club’s top scorer with seven goals in 13 games, including a strike in the cruel stoppage-time defeat to Fulham on Monday.

Strong, quick and with a great eye for goal, the South Korean forward is perhaps Gary O’Neil’s most potent attacking outlet right now with Pedro Neto injured. So, keeping Hwang quiet will be a challenge for Arsenal’s defence which will be led by none other than William Saliba.

Saliba has been the bedrock of Arsenal’s defence since last season, impressing with his positional awareness, physicality, speed and passing ability. The Frenchman had a comfortable evening’s work against Lens attackers in midweek but he will have to be on their toes throughout the game on Saturday to stop an in-form Hwang from scoring.