Arsenal FC XI vs Wolves: Confirmed Team News, Predicted Lineup, and Injury Update for Premier League Match
Arsenal fans are bracing themselves for a challenging match against Wolves on Saturday, as the team may face significant personnel shortages. The Gunners could be without as many as nine players, including key contributors.
One notable absence will be Riccardo Calafiori, who is suspended after accumulating his fifth yellow card of the season during the match against Aston Villa. This means that Mikel Arteta will need to make strategic substitutions to fill the void.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is set to step up as the left-back, replacing Calafiori. Arteta is also hoping that Jurrien Timber, who has been a pillar of the defense, will recover in time to partner Piero Hincapie in the heart of defense. However, there are concerns about other players' availability.
Declan Rice, who was unwell midweek and missed the Club Brugge victory, is a doubt for the match. Leandro Trossard, who has been struggling with a calf problem, and William Saliba, who is dealing with an ankle issue, are also in doubt. Arteta revealed that Saliba has not trained with the team yet, and his availability for the match is uncertain.
Despite the injuries, Arteta may not rush Rice back into action. Instead, he could opt for a midfield trio consisting of Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard, and Martin Zubimendi. It's worth noting that Arsenal has previously utilized Eze and Odegaard as two No8s during their match against West Ham.
In attack, Viktor Gyokeres is likely to lead the line again after his impressive performance in the Club Brugge match, where he played for over an hour. Bukayo Saka, who was rested for that game, is expected to return to the lineup. Noni Madueke, who scored twice against Brugge, might keep his place, but he could be moved to the left flank.
The predicted Arsenal XI for the match is as follows (4-3-3): Raya; White, Timber, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Madueke.
However, there are some uncertainties regarding the team's lineup due to the injuries and doubts surrounding Rice, Saliba, Timber, and Trossard.
The injured players include Dowman (ankle), Gabriel (thigh), Havertz (knee), and Mosquera (ankle). Additionally, Calafiori is suspended.
The match is scheduled for 8 p.m. BST on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Emirates Stadium. Fans can tune in to TNT Sports to catch all the action.
This match promises to be a challenging one for Arsenal, but the team will need to rise to the occasion, especially with the potential absence of several key players.
