Despite amassing 89 points and closing the season with a six-game winning streak, Arsenal fell just short of the Premier League title, which was once again claimed by Manchester City.
The Gunners’ victories over Wolves, Chelsea, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Manchester United, and Everton kept their title hopes alive until the very end. In the Champions League, Arsenal made it to the quarter-finals but were narrowly eliminated by Bayern Munich, losing 3-2 on aggregate.
Arsenal’s preseason has shown mixed results, beginning with a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, followed by a 2-1 win over Manchester United, and a 2-1 loss to Liverpool. They still have upcoming matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon before the season officially begins.
Wolves, meanwhile, struggled towards the end of the season despite having secured their Premier League safety early on.
Their only win in the last 10 games was a 2-1 victory over relegated Luton Town, accompanied by seven defeats and two draws, including heavy losses to Manchester City (5-1), Crystal Palace (3-1), and Liverpool (2-0) on the final day.
They ended the season in a disappointing 14th place, although they did reach the FA Cup quarter-finals. In preseason, Gary O’Neil’s squad kicked off with a 3-1 win over West Ham but then suffered a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. They also have matches against Leipzig and Rayo Vallecano lined up as they prepare for the new campaign.
Arsenal’s summer has been relatively calm, with the most notable changes being Mohamed Elneny’s move to Al-Jazira and the addition of solid defender Riccardo Calafiori.
David Raya has joined permanently, while full-backs Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares have returned from their loan spells. Gabriel and William Saliba, who had an outstanding Euro campaign, will continue to anchor the defense alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White.
In midfield, key players Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice are expected to feature prominently, supporting an attack led by Kai Havertz (13 goals, 7 assists last season), Bukayo Saka (16 goals, 9 assists), Leandro Trossard (12 goals), and Gabriel Martinelli (6 goals, 4 assists).
Arsenal is also considering additional reinforcements, with potential signings including Calafiori, Eberechi Eze, and PSV’s Ibrahim Sangaré.
Wolves are looking to improve on last season’s disappointing finish with the return of several players from loan spells, including Daniel Podence, Fabio Silva, Sasa Kalajdzic, Gonçalo Guedes, and Yerson Mosquera.
They have also made new signings, such as Rodrigo Gomes from Braga, Pedro Lima from Brazil, and Tommy Doyle from Manchester City. Additionally, Norwegian striker Jørgen Strand Larsen has joined on loan from Celta Vigo.
However, they will be without veteran defender Max Kilman, who signed with West Ham this summer. Key players like goalkeeper José Sá, defenders Rayan Aït-Nouri, Mario Lemina, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and attackers Pablo Sarabia, Matheus Cunha, and Hwang Hee-chan will be crucial for Wolves, though Hwang is rumored to be leaving for Marseille.
Prediction
Arsenal, despite falling short of a fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, are in strong form with six consecutive home wins, making them formidable contenders once again.
Wolves, however, have struggled on the road, losing their last five away games and conceding 13 goals. Arsenal is expected to secure a convincing victory.
Predicted Score: Arsenal 3 : 1 Wolves
