Match Thread: Wolves vs Arsenal
The Challenge
By Wolves
November 12 2022
So... as Wolves new Manager Julen Lopetegui arrives in Wolverhampton, the team face another huge challenge this evening when they welcome League leaders Arsenal to Molineux
After the joy of beating Leeds United in the Carabao Cup it's back to the reality of this season's Premier League competition today, and Wolves once again seek to overcome the odds and get some more points on the board, against a team enjoying their best season so far for many years, having topped the League from the off.
Today will be the last game in charge for Steve Davis and James Collins, who have achieved one win, one draw and four defeats in the league plus the midweek Cup win over Leeds. Julen Lopetegui will take charge of his first game for the next round of the Carabao Cup at home to Gillingham in December, before going to Everton for the next Premiership game on Boxing Day.
Wolves did not have a good time against Arsenal last season, losing at home to a solitary Gabriel goal, then surrendering a lead to lose 2-1 at the Emirates, unlike the previous season when Joao Moutinho's Goal of the Season was the winner for Wolves at Molineux - although Arsenal were down to nine men for the last 20 minutes!!!
Wolves will be hoping Matheus Nunes will be fit to return to first team action this evening, although Boubacar Traore must also be in the reckoning for a start after his cameo performance on Wednesday. Jonny went off injured with hamstring issues against Leeds and must be considered a doubt. He was replaced by 19 year old Dexter Lembikisa who did well, and must be in consideration considering the poor recent perfomrances seen from the alternative - Nelson Semedo. Rayan Ait-Nouri also put in a strong showing against Leeds, so it will be interesting to see whether he or Hugo Bueno start today.
Infuriatingly for those of us who already have prior engagements, and most unusually for a Saturday, today's game does not kick off until 7:45pm, but it will be screened live by Sky Sports. Our referee will be Stuart Attwell with the now retired Mike Dean on VAR duty.
Our good friend Ivybridge Wolf is fortunate enough to have seat for tonight's game at the Mol, whilst Cheshire Wolf is also fortunate enough to be watching Leo Sayer on the final night of his UK tour at the Liverpool Philharmonic Theatre, so neither will be able to offer any commentary on this game. However board members as always are encouraged to post their own observations and create a conversation on the progress of the game.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:02:11:22:17 by Cheshire wolf.
A win would put us back above them and Saints on goal difference!!
I’m currently enjoying a pre match pint and a cheese and onion cob in the Combermere in Chapel Ash, my regular haunt on match days. If you’ve not been here, it has a great big tree in the men urinal!! 😂 Great beer though.
All the best, fingers firmly crossed 🤞 for the match tonight, surely the Arsenal juggernaut will lapse at some point? Why not tonight ……. Like Man City this afternoon!
UTW
Nunes on the bench
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:11:12:19:00:40 by Cheshire wolf.
Could of been a different game maybe as we should of had a stonewall penalty in the first half with guedes.
Always said attwell and dean are the worst officials in the premier league, think they both hate wolves.
After dean retired God knows why they let him go in the var room.
Julen got a big job keeping this team up, he's got to find a couple of strikers who can find the net to give us a chance. Good luck to him he's going to need it.
Second half I felt we fell flat and at times I was infuriated with the lack of movement and sometimes apparent effort (in particular Guedes with his body language) up front.
Some positives from certain players, Bueno had another good game, but never enough against superior opposition, who whilst not at their best had the clear quality we lacked.
Haven’t yet seen the highlights but the goals looked somewhat chaotic from a Wolves perspective and the lad Dexter was caught out badly in the lead up to the second. In the same way, I’m not able to comment on the penalty shout , nobody really went mad around us at the time, but received a screenshot of the incident at half time and obviously reading above and the Davis comments, clearly something could have been there for us. Having said that, ultimately we weren’t good enough, yesterday or the previous 14 matches. The trend is well and truly there and with regret, the table is not lieing.
Lopetegui received a fine reception pre match, good to see. I wonder what he thought of our performance? My god, he’s got his work cut out. I wish him all the luck in the world and hope he’s told Jeff who he wants in January.
UTW
In the current footballing setup, we have probably reached our full potential as a football club and whilst we occasionally replace the furniture in the house ( managers/ players) we wont ever be competing with the bigger clubs (mansions). I'm not really sure what the long term aims are...presumably just staying in the prem year after year never winning anything is " the plan". No blame attached to fosun, but it doesnt set the pulses racing does it.