Mikel Arteta Should Start Arsenal’s £48.5m Star Scoring Four Against Wolves

Arsenal is gearing up for a pivotal Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ahead of this encounter, manager Mikel Arteta has good news regarding player fitness. Both Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White are available for selection.

Additionally, Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz are potentially in line for a return in the upcoming North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

Mikel Arteta’s Selection Strategy

Arteta is expected to make several changes following Arsenal’s 4-0 FA Cup victory against Wigan Athletic. A key decision will be whether to continue utilizing Noni Madueke on the right wing of the attack. The £48.5 million signing had an impressive start to the season before suffering from a knee injury. Since his return, Madueke has contributed to nine goals across all competitions.

Madueke’s Form Against Wolves

In his past five matches, Madueke has demonstrated remarkable performance with four goal involvements. His history against Wolverhampton is particularly noteworthy; he scored four goals in his last two clashes with the team. This includes a stunning hat-trick while playing for Chelsea in a 6-2 victory at Molineux last season.

• Last Meeting: December at Emirates – Arsenal won 2-1 despite own goals.
• Previous Two Games: Four goals scored by Madueke against Wolves.

Given these stats, it would be strategic for Arteta to start Madueke on the right wing, especially in light of his strong recent performances.

Formation and Player Roles

There is a potential for Bukayo Saka to shift to a different position. Saka played as an attacking midfielder in the last game against Wigan, and Arteta has hinted he might like to use him in this role again, especially with Ødegaard sidelined.

This would likely result in Madueke on the right and Saka taking on the number 10 responsibilities. Eberechi Eze is anticipated to start on the bench despite his recent assists.

Other Key Players to Watch

Viktor Gyökeres and Leandro Trossard are also expected in the attacking lineup. Gyökeres has been in fine form, scoring six goals and assisting twice since the start of the year. Trossard, with seven goal involvements in 13 matches against Wolves, is likely to feature as well.

As Arsenal prepares for this essential matchup, Arteta’s choices will be critical. With Madueke’s undeniable talent and prior success against Wolves, he is well-positioned to shine tonight.