For the last time before the World Cup Arsenal prepare for a Premier League match that could be huge in the momentum of their vastly unexpected title race. When it comes to the importance of being top over the break while national teams are in Qatar, Mikel Arteta was keen to play things down.
"It will be great but our focus is to play better every day," the Spaniard said in his pre-match press conference. "Try to play better tomorrow than we did against Chelsea. If we do that tomorrow our chances of winning will be greater and that’s where the focus is."
Despite his protestations though, this game for Arsenal is massive. After all their hard work so far this season ensuring top spot over the break will be psychologically massive and a result it's crucial for Arteta to get his team selection right.
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on White's England call up, Qatar World Cup and January transfers
Thankfully for the Spaniard, he's not dealing with too many fresh injury concerns. Ahead of the match, he confirmed that there had been no new ailments, which means that he could go very strong for his side's final hurrah ahead of the World Cup.
That means in goal Aaron Ramsdale will return to the side following Karl Hein's unfortunate debut on Wednesday night. The Estonian is unlikely to even be on the bench for this game, with Matt Turner fit to make it on the bench.
In front of him the right side of Arsenal's defence will be celebrating World Cup call-ups. Ben White finally was called into the England squad, while William Saliba is an outside shout to start for France in Qatar.
The other half of the back four will spend the next few weeks at home however. Gabriel is taking advantage of the togetherness in his squad as the Gunners players rally around him following his omission from the Brazil side, while Oleksandr Zinchenko never got his hopes up anyway as Ukraine hadn't qualified. His place in the starting line up is almost guaranteed with Takehiro Tomiyasu unlikely to be risked while Arteta's aversion for Kieran Tierney in league games will come into play.
Thomas Partey meanwhile will have a crucial role to play for Ghana as their most important player, but he'll have to do one more match for Arsenal in an equally crucial position before he flies off. Granit Xhaka meanwhile can be relied upon when it comes to focus and mentality for one more game, and the same can be said of Martin Odegaard even if he's not travelling away with the Norway team.
On the right wing Bukayo Saka will hope to survive one more match of heavy treatment from opposition defenders that referees seem still unwilling to call out. That leaves space for the two Brazilians who did make it on the plane to Qatar, with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus desperate to continue their fabulous club form on the international stage.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Wolves - Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
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