Preview: Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers - prediction, team news, lineups

Arsenal will be aiming to get their Premier League campaign back on track when they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Gunners have won just one of their last five top-flight matches and enter the weekend's fixtures down in 12th, one point behind opponents Wolves.

Match preview

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Arsenal may be struggling domestically, but they continued their impressive form in the Europa League on Thursday with a convincing 3-0 victory away at Norwegian side Molde.

Nicolas Pepe was among the scorers for the Gunners, four days on from being heavily criticised by his manager for his sending off in the goalless league draw with Leeds United.

That was the second league match running that Arsenal had failed to score, having also fired a blank in their shock 3-0 home loss to Aston Villa before the international break.

Indeed, Mikel Arteta 's side have scored only one goal in their last five Premier League matches in what has been a poor run, the only victory coming away to Newcastle United.

Arteta was always going to be given time to put his spin on things at the Emirates Stadium, but performances and results have simply not been good enough over the past six weeks.

While this visit of Wolves is not quite in must-win territory yet for the Gunners, the pressure is certainly on if they are to keep pace with the top six.

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Finishing in a European spot is also the aim for Wolves, who have had a rather mixed time of things so far in 2020-21.

Nuno Espirito Santo 's men have won four, lost three and drawn two of their first nine games, winning back-to-back only once.

Last Monday's 1-1 draw with Southampton was another mixed bag, Pedro Neto levelling up 15 minutes from time after Theo Walcott had put the Saints ahead at Molineux.

A big positive for Wolves has been their defensive record, with Tottenham Hotspur (9) the only side to have conceded fewer than Wanderers' 10 so far. On the flipside, no team in the top half has scored fewer goals (9).

This Sunday's match is a big one for both sides in many ways, then, with the mood of supporters likely to change depending on the outcome in North London.

Arsenal Premier League form: WLLWLD

Arsenal form (all competitions): WWWLDW

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form: WWDWLD

Team News

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Arsenal have a number of injury and suspension concerns ahead of this match, with as many as 11 first-team players potentially missing.

Pepe is suspended for his headbutt on Ezgjan Alioski, while Gabriel Martinelli and Pablo Mari are definitely out.

Big summer signing Thomas Partey remains a fitness doubt and Arsenal are also sweating on the fitness of Willian, Bukayo Saka, David Luiz, Sead Kolasinac, David Luiz, Mohamed Elneny and Calum Chambers.

Should Nelson and Willian miss out, Reiss Nelson and Alexandre Lacazette are in contention to return to the side from last week's Elland Road stalemate.

As for the visitors, they are boosted by the return of club captain Conor Coady after his return from a period of self-isolation.

The England international's return may mean Nuno reverting to his favoured back-five system, with Nelson Semedo and Rayan Ait-Nouri operating in the wing-back positions.

Jony remains sidelined with a knee problem, meanwhile, and Romain Saiss recently tested positive for COVID-19.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Ceballos, Xhaka; Nelson, Willock, Aubameyang; Lacazette

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Patricio; Boly, Coady, Kilman; Semedo, Moutinho, Neves, Ait-Nouri; Neto, Podence; Jimenez

We say: Arsenal 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Arsenal and Wolves have a very similar record this season, even scoring and conceding the same number of goals in their first nine matches.

Wanderers are winless in nine away league games against the Gunners, but each of their last three visits to the Emirates Stadium have finished in a 1-1 draw, which we can see being the case in this latest encounter.

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