Wolverhampton-Arsenal Preview

Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to finish a memorable Premier League campaign in style when they host Wolves on Sunday, with the Gunners looking to put the disappointment of missing out on the title behind them.

Arsenal led Manchester City for much of the season, but a run of just two wins from eight games (D3 L3) saw the Gunners overhauled by Pep Guardiola's treble-chasing team.

Last week's 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest ensured Arsenal's wait for a league title will stretch to at least 20 years, but Arteta is looking forward to receiving a warm reception at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

"Now it's about finishing the season in style, providing a great performance and getting a victory in front of our people," he said.

"We want to show our gratitude and receive the incredible energy that they have given us throughout the season, and start to build for the next season.

"It's been some journey, full of emotions, and we were really looking forward (to something) that in the end, we haven't achieved.

"But I think looking at it with a bit of perspective, there are a lot of things - not only on the field - that have happened at the club that deserve a lot of credit."

Having taken over when Wolves were bottom of the league, Julen Lopetegui led them to safety in comfortable fashion, but his long-term future at Molineux is reportedly in doubt.

Lopetegui is seeking assurances over Wolves' recruitment policy, and the Spaniard is aware of their need to improve.

"We were bottom on Boxing Day, but this is our real situation," he said.

"We have to assess and try to be humble and be honest to improve, knowing our real situation.

"Next year we'll see what's going to happen, it depends on the squad we're going to have."

Arsenal - Granit Xhaka

In what will likely be his final game as an Arsenal player, Xhaka could make his 225th Premier League appearance, moving level with Kolo Toure into joint-13th in the Gunners' charts. This is already his best league season with Arsenal in terms of goals (five) and his joint-best for assists (seven, level with 2017-18), and he will want to go out with a bang.

Wolves - Ruben Neves

It could be a day of goodbyes for midfielders at the Emirates, with Wolves skipper Neves strongly linked with a move to Barcelona. Wolves are the lowest-scoring side in the Premier League this season with 31 goals, with Neves and Daniel Podence their joint-top goalscorers in the competition this campaign, netting six apiece.

Arsenal have won 25 Premier League games this season, only winning more in their title-winning campaigns of 2001-02 and 2003-04 (both 26), though they have lost their last two matches without scoring.

The omens are good for the Gunners ahead of this final-day clash, however. They have won their final match of the season more often than any other Premier League side (21), while the Gunners also have the highest final-day win rate in the competition's history (70%).

Wolves may be comfortably safe, but they are winless in their last seven away league games (D2 L5), losing their last three by an aggregate score of 10-1. They could lose four away Premier League matches in a row for the first time since a run of six in 2011.

Arsenal - 54.4%

Wolves - 19.1%

Draw - 26.5%

Updated May 27, 2023