Tuesday 3 November 2009

Dare we start to dream?


Arsenal have won nine and drawn two of their last 11 games in all competitions.

Arsenal have scored 32 goals in their 10 Premier League games this season.

Arsenal beat north London rivals Spurs 3-0 at the weekend - and manager Arsene Wenger claimed: "We should have scored more."

Arsenal are clearly on fire, and if you're still not convinced of the monumental challenge awaiting Wolves on Saturday, here's Match of the Day's Alan Hansen:

"For all of my philosophy that winning is everything, you cannot deny that it would be good for the game if Arsenal were to win the title because they play brilliant football. They are now playing with some backbone, though."

What a thrilling prospect for everyone who will be at Molineux on Saturday night. A rampant Arsenal side littered with world class footballers - and our Wolves, fresh out of the Championship, and right now playing with the self belief that really does make you "proud to be a Wolves fan".

Dropped points against West Ham, Hull and Portsmouth mean Wolves can't escape from the bottom six just now. But the heart-warming performances against Everton, Villa and Stoke provide a real sense that Wolves can compete seriously in the Premier League - because we are.

A fairly abject first 45 minutes at the Britannia, but a transformed second half performance that provoked memories of that thrilling 4-3 victory over Leicester almost six years ago to the day: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3206858.stm

Make no mistake, Wolves are playing with masses of desire, but no shortage of controlled play either. But a masterclass in ball retention awaits on Saturday, and that's where Wolves fell down in the first half at Stoke - the ball was given away far too easily.

But with the heroic Karl Henry showing such determination, and Nenad Milijas adding second half class, Wolves did enough to win at Stoke. And how many teams do that?

So we're gunning for the Gunners, with three obvious selection posers for Mick McCarthy.

Based on the second half at the Britannia, he needs to restore Milijas to the starting XI. Who partners the fantastic Kevin Doyle in attack? And who should play at left back?

The decision on the left of defence is a clear one. Either take the struggling George Elokobi out of the firing line, or back him to come good against English football's pass-masters.

Elokobi is clearly a massively popular figure in the Wolves squad, and has so many admirable qualities. But right now, his use of the ball is not Premier League standard, and Wolves are clearly missing the attacking thrusts provided by Stephen Ward.

So it's all set up fantastically. Molineux will be a seething mass of excitement - and you would think Arsenal should be too strong.

But how many of us seriously expected Wolves to be unbeaten in the last three games - while all of us will remember this with such fondness: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/photo_galleries/3405757.stm