Wolverhampton vs Arsenal Predictions

• Arsenal have scored three or more goals in five of their last seven away games
• Wolves have lost three of their last four league matches by two clear goals
• Seven of Wolves’ 10 home defeats have come by two goals or more, including all three meetings with the top five
• Madueke scored four goals across two meetings with Wolves last season, including a hat-trick at Molineux

Key opportunity for Arsenal

Arsenal slipped up at Brentford last week, but they have the chance to move seven points clear of Manchester City with a win at bottom side Wolves. The Gunners are playing this game early due to their Carabao Cup final appearance next month, but Manchester City’s match for that weekend still hasn’t been given a new date.

Wolves threatened to make themselves at least competitive at the turn of the year, but their surge under Rob Edwards hasn’t sustained. The Molineux side narrowly won at League Two Grimsby on Sunday, while they’re winless in six Premier League matches.

Arsenal have let the handbrake off

Mikel Arteta has been criticised all season for his side’s conservative style, but the Gunners seem to have been let off the leash of late. They raced into a 4-0 lead against Wigan in the FA Cup on Sunday, while they ended January with a 4-0 win at Leeds before beating Sunderland 3-0.

Arsenal have now scored three or more goals in five of their last seven away trips. That run has included a victory at Chelsea and a comfortable win over Inter Milan.

The Gunners should add to that against Wolves, who have lost two goals in three of their last four league games. The hosts did draw 0-0 with Nottingham Forest in their last game, but they lost the Expected Goals battle 2.55 to 0.42. Seven of Wolves’ 10 home defeats have come by two clear goals, including all three meetings with the top five.

Madueke can be Molineux’s main character again

Noni Madueke drew the ire of the Molineux crowd last season for a less-than-positve review of the town, and he responded to that with a hat-trick for Chelsea. The winger also found the net in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, so he can expect a warm reception when he crosses paths with them for the first time in an Arsenal shirt.

Madueke comes into this game in impressive form after Bukayo Saka’s injury handed him a run in the side. Madueke supplied a goal and an assist at Leeds in January, and he’s found the net in Arsenal’s last two games. With the North London Derby to come on Sunday, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Madueke continue in the starting lineup, and he can star at Molineux once again.