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Arsenal start the new Premier League campaign playing host to Wolverhampton Wanderers with the aim of improving on their second place finish last season and lift the trophy.
Mikel Arteta’s side finished just two points behind reigning champions Manchester City but took the title race down to the final week which was a signal that they have the capability to challenge Pep Guardiola’s serial winners for the duration of the campaign.
The Gunners have been active in the transfer market this summer, confirming the permanent move of goalkeeper David Raya and bringing in Riccardo Calafiori who should bring extra stability to an already solid defensive line. It’s been a window of slow evolution for Arsenal who will be hoping a positive pre-season translates to success in the league.
For their part, Wolves have parted ways with influential winger Pedro Neto but Gary O’Neil’s side performed well in 2023/24 finishing 14th without too much discomfort. They’ll be hoping for a higher finish this time around and a good result against Arsenal will send them on their way.
Follow all the action from Arsenal vs Wolves below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Arsenal vs Wolves
We’ve had a look at the fans arriving, here are some shots of the players:
Sonia Twigg17 August 2024 14:30
Arsenal fans arrive at the Emirates
Fans have been arriving at the Emirates ahead of the 3pm kick off:
Sonia Twigg17 August 2024 14:15
It’s time for Arsenal to deliver – and one uncomfortable question holds the key
Gradual progress, incremental improvement. Arsenal have been on a serious upward trajectory over the past few seasons, and now there’s only one place left to go. Of course, that final step is always the most difficult, yet it is also the end ambition, the goal, the whole point of a new direction, new investment and new reason for optimism.
Mikel Arteta – like most bosses who go up against Pep Guardiola-led teams – remains unproven in that most important context. If last year was about showcasing they could stay the course and be in a genuine title fight into the final week or two of the season, then 2024/25 must be about underlining the reasons why Arsenal can take the final step – and, of course, about actually taking it.
Two points off the title as they were last year feels close, and yet… it never feels that close to Manchester City, somehow. This is after all a team who have twice won the league recently by single-point margins, have hit record tallies along the way and have become experts in seeing out the season.
Sonia Twigg17 August 2024 14:00
Wolves team news
Wolves XI: Sa, Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri, Bellegarde, Lemina, J Gomes, R Gomes, Hwang, Strand Larsen
Subs: Bentley, S Bueno, Podence, Cunha, Dawson, Doyle, Sarabia, Chiquinho, Guedes
Sonia Twigg17 August 2024 13:52
Arsenal team news
Arsenal have named their team for their Premier League opener:
Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz
Subs: Ramsdale, Calafiori, Timber, Jorginho, Nelson, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus, Nketiah
Sonia Twigg17 August 2024 13:48
Arsenal vs Wolves – team news
Stay tuned, the teams will be announced in just five minutes’ time.
Who are Arsenal going to choose to lead them into the new season?
Sonia Twigg17 August 2024 13:40
Mikel Arteta challenges Arsenal to take a step forward this season
Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to improve once again this season, but sensed the motivation in his players during a club gathering on the night Manchester City clinched the Premier League title.
Arsenal enjoyed a record-breaking 2023-24 campaign, winning more games than ever before in the division and yet missed out on silverware to Pep Guardiola’s side by two points.
The title race went to the final day and City won a fourth consecutive league crown but Arsenal staff, including co-chair Josh Kroenke, players and their families gathered on the same night at a venue in central London to reflect on the near-miss and a burning desire to go one better was already evident.
Sonia Twigg17 August 2024 13:30
Mikel Arteta reveals key meeting inspiring Arsenal to ‘climb the highest mountain’
Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to improve once again this season, but sensed the motivation in his players during a club gathering on the night Manchester City clinched the Premier League title.
The title race went to the final day and City won a fourth consecutive league crown but Arsenal staff, including co-chair Josh Kroenke, players and their families gathered on the same night at a venue in central London to reflect on the near-miss and a burning desire to go one better was already evident.
Sonia Twigg17 August 2024 13:15
Arsenal vs Wolves
Arsenal vs Wolves will kick off at 3pm, therefore it will not be shown on TV, as there is a blackout for all matches at 3pm on a Saturday throughout the football pyramid.
For fans still wanting to follow the match, we will have all the action and updates, and for those wanting to listen to the action, it will be live on BBC Radio 5Live.
Sonia Twigg17 August 2024 13:00
Mikel Arteta: Arsenal are still a long way from reaching full potential
City’s recent dominance has played out amid the backdrop of 115 charges from the Premier League hanging over them.
It is a long-running case which should reach a conclusion before the end of the season but Arteta declined to comment.
“It is nothing to do with us,” Arteta insisted.
The Arsenal boss was more forthcoming about where he can improve ahead of Saturday’s visit of Wolves.
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso described Arteta as a “competitive animal” after a recent pre-season friendly.
And Arteta laughed, adding: “Yeah, I love it. Everything I do, I try to win. I try to do it at my best.
“I am happier afterwards, I feel fulfilled. If I am not able to do it, obviously I try to learn from it and apply things that will get me closer to doing that. That is the way I am.”
Sonia Twigg17 August 2024 12:45
