The highly anticipated return of Premier League football to Emirates Stadium is set for Saturday afternoon, as Arsenal prepares to face off against Wolverhampton Wanderers on matchday one.
As the Gunners embark on their mission to dethrone Manchester City, Gary O’Neil’s Wolves have their sights set on a top-half finish for the 2024-25 season.
Arteta’s Arsenal has been on an upward trajectory, with only two blemishes in their pre-season campaign, a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United – whom they defeated in regular time – and a narrow loss to Liverpool.
The Gunners have already showcased their prowess at Emirates Stadium this month, with a commanding 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen followed by a 2-0 win against Lyon in the Emirates Cup, extending their winning streak at home to five matches.
It has been 45 years since Arsenal last failed to score in a competitive match against Wolves, a team that has conceded in each of their last 33 encounters with the North London side.
Wolves manager Gary O’Neil’s reaction to the upcoming match can be seen in the image below, highlighting the anticipation surrounding this clash.
The clash represents Arsenal’s longest scoring streak against a single opponent and Wolves’ longest run without keeping a clean sheet against a specific team, setting the stage for an exciting showdown on Saturday.
Despite a convincing win over Lyon, Wolves have suffered setbacks in pre-season, including losses to Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano. They have also lost their last three Premier League season openers, aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat in their upcoming match.
Moreover, Wolves are looking to break a six-match losing streak against Arsenal and secure their first victory at the Emirates since November 2020, a match marred by a harrowing head collision between David Luiz and Raul Jimenez.
Both teams are gearing up for a thrilling encounter, with expectations high for an action-packed showdown at Emirates Stadium.
