PREM: Arsenal v Wolves preview

Arsenal v Wolves preview

Arsenal could end the weekend three points off the top of the Premier League - and face an out-of-form Wolves side on Sunday.

Wolves started the season in superb form, but have since tailed off and lost their last three games, leading head coach Nuno Espirito Santo to demand his side react to their current slump.

There were reasons to be optimistic from their narrow 3-2 defeat to Tottenham last weekend, with Wolves coming from 3-0 down to almost claim a point against the title chasers, but Santo wants more from his side, who are competing in the Premier League for the first time since 2012 after winning the Championship last season.

 

"We're not in the best moment but we have to react to it," said the Wolves boss. "In every moment it's a challenge for us because we have to get better. You have to challenge yourself and improve yourself.

"You cannot get results if you don't perform well, that's what I think and defend. We reacted well from the bad performance against Watford, we didn't achieve the result against Brighton or Tottenham but we performed well.

 

"We work to perform better and well and then we try to achieve the result. We don't think about the result first - no matter what it's perform well, do your tasks and try to win."

 

Arsenal will be without striker Danny Welbeck, who suffered a broken leg in Thursday's Europa League draw with Sporting Lisbon, and team-mate Rob Holding tipped the forward, who had received a call-up to the England squad earlier that day, to bounce back.

"I didn't see it because obviously I'm at the other end of the pitch so I didn't see exactly what he'd done," said Holding.

"But Danny is a tough lad so if he's on the floor, I know it's something serious and we'll see what happens.

"He's been so unlucky with injuries over the past few years but he's a good character and got a good set of lads around him so we'll lift him up and get him back as soon as we can."

 

Arsenal will be without Danny Welbeck and Stephan Lichtsteiner for Sunday's Premier League visit of Wolves after both were forced off injured in Thursday's draw with Sporting Lisbon.

Welbeck (ankle) is expected to be sidelined for some time after being taken to hospital following an awkward fall, while Lichtsteiner limped out of the Europa League clash with a muscular issue.

Mohamed Elneny (thigh) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin) are still missing, while Matteo Guendouzi is back in domestic contention after serving a one-match ban.