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Played
April 11, 2012 7:45 PM BST
Molineux Stadium — Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Referee:‬ N. Swarbrick‎
Attendance:‬ 25815‎
 
 
Robin van Persie 9′ (PG)
 
Theo Walcott 11′
 
Yossi Benayoun 69′

Wolves - Arsenal Preview: Hosts have not beaten the Gunners since 1979

The Molineux outfit have lost their last six Premier League games under interim boss Terry Connor but earned a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in December

By George Ankers

More On :  Arsenal FC, Wolves, Wolves vs Arsenal FC
EPL,Yaya Toure,Tomas Rosicky,Arsenal v Manchester City
Getty Images

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

WOLVES

Hennessey
Zubar, Stearman, Bassong, Ward
Kightly, Henry, Edwards, Jarvis
Doyle, Fletcher
ARSENAL

Szczesny
Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Gibbs
Arteta, Song, Rosicky
Walcott, Van Persie, Benayoun

Wolves trio Jamie O'Hara, Stephen Hunt and Jody Craddock remain sidelined for Terry Connor's side as the Premier League's bottom side welcome in-form Arsenal to Molineux.

Sylvain Ebanks-Blake was preferred up front against Stoke City but Kevin Doyle may be in line for a return on Wednesday.

Richard Stearman could continue at centre-back, after moving inside to accomodate Ronald Zubar while Roger Johnson is likely to miss out again after Connor opted to replace the controversial centre-back with Karl Henry as the club's captain.

Arsenal will be sweating on the fitness of left-back Kieran Gibbs, who limped out of Sunday's win over Manchester City, and they are still without Jack Wilshere, Per Mertesacker (both ankle), Emmanuel Frimpong (knee), Francis Coquelin and Abou Diaby (both hamstring).

The Gunners will also be without centre-back Laurent Koscielny after the Frenchman picked up a suspension after he collected his 10th yellow card of the campaign against City.

Yossi Benayoun came in for the Gunners in their 1-0 victory over Roberto Mancini's sdie and Arsene Wenger is likely to stick with the 4-3-3 formation that won that game.


 DID YOU KNOW?
  • Wolves have lost their last six games and are the Premier League's bottom side with 22 points from 32 games.
  • The hosts have conceded 70 goals so far this season - the most of any side in the Premier League.
  • Behind 11-goal Steven Fletcher, Wolves' second-highest league goalscorer is winger Matt Jarvis (pictured right), who has just five.
  • The Molineux outfit kept clean sheets in two of their first three Premier League games, on August 21 and 27, but have failed to keep any side out since then.
  • Wolves have yet to score a league goal in the first 10 minutes of a match.
  • Arsenal have won seven of their last eight matches.
  • The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium by Wolves on December 27, Fletcher's equaliser canceling out an early Gervinho strike.
  • Arsenal have conceded five own goals in the league this term whilst Terry Connor's side have leaked just two.
  • The Gunners have not lost to Wolves in any competition since September 29 1979, when they were beaten 3-2 in the old Division One. There have been 18 meetings between the two clubs since.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Wolves 0-3 Arsenal FC
    22.88 %
  • Wolves 0-4 Arsenal FC
    15.97 %
  • Wolves 0-2 Arsenal FC
    14.57 %
Head to Head
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 11 Apr 2012 Wolves 0 - Arsenal FC 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 27 Dec 2011 Arsenal FC 1 - Wolves 1
  • Player Ratings
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Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 12 Feb 2011 Arsenal FC 2 - Wolves 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 10 Nov 2010 Wolves 0 - Arsenal FC 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 3 Apr 2010 Arsenal FC 1 - Wolves 0
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Last Five Matches
Wolves
4 May 2013Brighton & Hove Albion 2 - Wolves 0ENG2
27 Apr 2013Wolves 1 - Burnley 2ENG2
20 Apr 2013Charlton Athletic 2 - Wolves 1ENG2
16 Apr 2013Wolves 1 - Hull City 0ENG2
13 Apr 2013Wolves 1 - Huddersfield Town 3ENG2
Arsenal FC
19 May 2013Newcastle United 0 - Arsenal FC 1EPL
14 May 2013Arsenal FC 4 - Wigan Athletic 1EPL
4 May 2013QPR 0 - Arsenal FC 1EPL
28 Apr 2013Arsenal FC 1 - Manchester United 1EPL
20 Apr 2013Fulham 0 - Arsenal FC 1EPL
Odds
Returns: Wolves £710.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £460.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Arsenal £14.44 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Team News
Available Squads
1Wayne HennesseyGoalkeeper
5Richard StearmanDefender
11Stephen WardDefender
5S. BassongDefender
23Ronald ZubarDefender
4David EdwardsMidfielder
21Michael KightlyMidfielder
8Karl HenryMidfielder
7Matthew JarvisMidfielder
37David DavisMidfielder
29Kevin DoyleStriker
31Dorus De VriesGoalkeeper
14Roger JohnsonDefender
16Christophe BerraDefender
11Nenad MilijasMidfielder
37Anthony FordeMidfielder
9Sylvan Ebanks-BlakeStriker
26Steven FletcherStriker
13Wojciech SzczesnyGoalkeeper
3Bacary SagnaDefender
5Thomas VermaelenDefender
27Andre SantosDefender
20Johan DjourouDefender
8Mikel ArtetaMidfielder
16Aaron RamseyMidfielder
25Alex SongMidfielder
10Yossi BenayounMidfielder
20Robin van PersieStriker
14Theo WalcottStriker
21Lukasz FabianskiGoalkeeper
18Sébastien SquillaciDefender
25Carl Jenkinson Defender
7Tomas RosickyMidfielder
18Chu-Young ParkStriker
15Alex Oxlade-ChamberlainStriker
29Marouane ChamakhStriker
Players to Watch
Michael Kightly
Michael Kightly
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 21
Games Goals YC RC
22 3 2 0
The winger, a former Tottenham youngster, has been one of the only bright sparks for Wolves in the most recent chapter of their disastrous season. He scored against Stoke City last time out and Terry Connor will be looking to the right-sided player to bring something extra to a team bereft of confidence. Kightly's ability is not to be underestimated and he could find some joy against Kieran Gibbs, who is not yet the best defensively and positionally.
Johan Djourou
Johan Djourou
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 20
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
With Laurent Koscielny suspended for two games due to reaching his 10th yellow card, the Swiss is likely to be called into service at the centre of defence. Arsenal should not really have trouble scoring against the leaky Wolves back line but the hosts will be forced to go for it as they desperately search for points to stand a chance of staying up and so Djourou, who can be slightly error-prone at times, will need to have a solid match.
Prediction
Wolves have run out of time for caution and will need to go for it, unconcerned by the quality of the opposition, but you feel that the Gunners should have little trouble picking them off. Arsenal are on a high, having recovered from their shock defeat by QPR in the best possible way - an overturning of Manchester City - and their attack, particularly the imperious Robin van Persie, can be expected to put daylight between the two sides.
Editor's Prediction
Wolves 1
Arsenal 3
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Manchester United 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0

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