Arsenal and Wolves ready to steal the spotlight as Champions League becomes the reward and the reality
The sides meet for the second time in 12 days with a chance to become front-runners in the top-four race on the line
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.“Bruno Lage’s side haven’t yet taken too much focus in the wider Premier League picture, but perhaps they are about to.”
So wrote these pages one month ago, as Wolverhampton Wanderers prepared to embark on a run of fixtures which could see them marooned in mid-table, or propelled into the mix for a European spot.
Since then: 2-1 win, 2-0 win, 2-1 win – plus a 1-0 reversal into the mix. Low-scoring encounters, keeping with the theme of their season, but far more consistency than most sides in the top eight have managed across the same run.
In fact, over the last six games, only the league’s most in-form side in Liverpool have accrued more points than Wolves have managed, leaving them just six points off the Champions League spots with two games in hand over Manchester United.
Perhaps because they don’t score too many, don’t spend too much or simply aren’t as big a name – club, players, head coach all included – as some of those rivals around them, Wolves are still being somewhat overlooked when it comes to a discussion over at the very least a Europa League place. They are two points behind West Ham now, with two games in hand and having taken seven points more across the last six games.
There is little reason to suspect they cannot keep up this run, given recent wins over Tottenham and Leicester in particular – but on Thursday they face the one side who has triumphed over them in the top flight since back-to-back defeats to the top two in December: Arsenal.
The Gunners themselves, of course, are somewhat improved of late and well in the running for the top four themselves, with back-to-back wins and just one conceded in three leaving them only four points of United with three in hand.
Clearly, a lot more than just nearing equilibrium in the “played” column of the league table is at stake at the Emirates Stadium.
It’s intriguing to note the disparity in messages both managers are sending out, in terms of the race for European places.
Mikel Arteta largely downplayed the prospect of the Gunners being the side who eventually claimed fourth this season after the win over Brentford.
“There is a long way to go. So we need to go on Thursday again, prepare very well, against Wolves it is going to be a really difficult match,” he said.
“We need to perform well to win and play better and better and better, that’s the aim. We cannot look too far. Things change very quickly. It’s really difficult to win matches in this league.”
For Wolves’ head coach Bruno Lage, though, it was about emphasising that the past few months has been exactly what Wolves need to do more of – and the hope that they could achieve the unexpected by repeating that.
“We are coming with solid performances, we are scoring goals, we are winning points and we need to continue this way because if we do we can do something special,” he said after another weekend win.
“When I say something special I mean the way we are going to play these 14 games. We did something special with the way we played in December, January and February. We are doing solid things.”
It’s nothing new that managers opt out of being totally committal toward objectives of course. The pressure increases and it’s inevitably later used as a stick to beat them with if they fall short, even if by the slimmest of margins.
And there’s more expectation and focus on Arsenal to nab the top positions, by virtue of...well, everything. Historical size and spend, mostly.
Two wins in quick succession over their most in-form, but underappreciated, rivals for the top four would really underline the scope of the Gunners’ improvements, and the prospects of them winning what is a largely exciting five-team race.
One point off fourth with two in hand should immediately install them as favourites, even if Antonio Conte and Spurs wouldn’t be far behind and have the recent positive headlines.
Quickfire revenge for Wolves, though, might finally force one or two alarmed glances their way, at the realisation that a team scoring fewer than one goal per game this season have impressively tiptoed their way to the brink.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments