Mikel Arteta's Arsenal team travels to the Black Country on Thursday to face Wolves in a crucial Premier League match with undeniable top-four implications.
After bidding farewell to Nuno Espirito Santo at the end of last season as the Portuguese manager sought a new challenge, Arsenal will face a re-energized Wolves side at Molineux in their first competitive match in 18 days.
It's a massive game. Every game from now until the end of the season will be for this Gunners team.
With no other competitions to focus on, Arteta's team has nowhere to hide. If they are unable to string together a string of results in the final 17 games, they will be eliminated. They don't deserve Champions League football if they don't play all of the season's games with the extra rest they get from not being in Europe or the FA Cup. That's all there is to it.
Their return to the Premier League pits them against a team that has managed to sneak into the top four despite having the third lowest scoring average in the league. Bruno Lage has built a team with a strong defensive foundation that rarely concedes or gives away chances.
Given the length of time the players have been out of action, fitness and sharpness could play a key role in this one, so a win here will be seen as a real success ahead of hosting Brentford next.
Arteta has his team playing the way he wants them to, despite a five-game losing streak in January. Various absences played a role throughout the month, and now that the squad is close to full strength, it is time to right the wrongs of January.
Tactically, it should be an interesting match. Wolves have their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Four tactical areas to exploit come to mind, which is easier said than done given how well this Wolves team has performed this season.
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