Manchester City may be the “Shark Team”, but the current iteration of Arsenal – the one that will come into 2024/25 – is the Shark’s predator. Mikel Arteta has one mission and that is to not let a third straight title disappointment occur.
It was such a bittersweet moment for the club to miss out on a second-straight title last season; “Bitter” because losing is not a good feeling and “Sweet” because they were able to prove that their run in 2022/24 was not a fluke. Their process was finally paying off and the world was beginning to take them seriously.
This is why their opening match of the 2024/25 season is the most important game they will play in some time. They desperately need to hit the ground running with an emphatic win in order to maintain that image which they’ve built.
Wolves, meanwhile, staggered a bit after a decent start to 2023/24, caught themselves and tailed off once again towards the end of the season. However, the fact that they were able to achieve what they did with the number of injuries they faced is definitely something to be excited about. The fact that Gary O’Neil will also be having his first full pre-season with the team to fully immerse them in his philosophy is also something the fans will be looking forward to.
Keep reading for match ticket information, game day previews, team news and predictions on the match’s outcome.
Ticket information
Arsenal vs Wolverhampton Wanderers will be played on Saturday 17 August 2024 at 3 PM. The Gunners’ Emirates Stadium will host this clash and fans who want to watch the game in the UK will have to make their way to the stadium. This is because it will not be broadcast in the UK. Only fans outside the country with subscriptions to Premier League broadcast partners who are airing the game will be able to watch it live on television or streaming.
Arsenal vs Wolves tickets will be selling fast in particular, owing to their status as one of the favourites to win the league. The faster, the better because tickets for the opening day of the 2024/25 Premier League are selling out quicker than you can fire up your browser.
Non-locals, visiting fans or football tourists are best served by ordering their tickets from ticket resellers on trusted platforms like seatsnet.com, where there is no hassle of registration and the waiting period for the ratification of the registration by the clubs.
Team news
At the time of writing, Arsenal’s only signing is David Raya. After a brilliant loan spell last season from fellow London club Brentford, Mikel Arteta has effectively relegated Aaron Ramsdale to second choice at the club. The Englishman must be feeling the same way that Bernd Leno felt when Arteta chose Ramsdale over him.
This signing has given Arsenal a boost as they can now rest assured that they have a strong goalkeeper to begin the season with. Raya will also come in with the confidence of a continental champion, having been on the Spain national team squad that won the 2024 Euros in Germany in July 2024.
Arsenal still need solidity upfront, however, with their main options being Kai Havertz (not a natural nine) and the injury-prone Gabriel Jesus.
Wolves, meanwhile, are learning Gary O’Neil’s style. Arsenal and the rest of the Premier League saw what the manager could do but injuries and a lack of consistency did not help Wolves in the 2023/24 season. They have acquired Jørgen Strand Larsen on loan from Celta de Vigo in Spain while adding Pedro Lima and Rodrigo Gomes to their ranks to strengthen the right side of their squad. Wingers Gonçalo Guedes and Daniel Podence have returned from their loan spells in Spain and Portugal respectively, which greatly increases their attack power. However, their futures are still up in the air.
Luckily for O’Neil, the transfer window goes on till August 30 2024, after which both players could have helped the team against Arsenal and other opponents.
With these in mind, here’s how we expect both teams to line up for their 2024/25 opener.
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, White; Rice, Partey, Ødegaard; Martinelli, Havertz, Saka.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sá; Toti, Dawson, Bueno; Traore; Aït-Nouri, Lemina, Gomes, Doherty; Larsen, Cunha.
Match preview
Arsenal vs Wolverhampton Wanderers is set to be an exciting matchup for fans and neutrals alike. Both teams favour attacking football so there will be little to no low blocks in the game. Arsenal, however, will show more defensive solidity thanks to their pairing of Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba.
O’Neil’s potential starting XI formation will also give him some defensive depth, as his expected formation will collapse into a five-man defence when Arsenal are on the ball. It has not stopped the Gunners in the past, however, but this time around, the team has more time to fully understand what the former West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers midfielder wants from them.
As stated earlier in this article, this match will be important for both managers because of the burden of responsibility they both carry: Arteta’s being a third-straight brilliant season with hopes that Manchester City slip up and O’Neil’s being a second season of building on the successes of the first.
The match kicks off at 3 PM UK time at The Emirates – which will be at its loudest – on August 17, 2024.
Prediction
Again, tickets to Arsenal vs Wolverhampton Wanderers are selling fast. The game won’t be broadcast in the UK and this will also contribute to the tickets selling out quicker. Thankfully, there are tickets on seatsnet.com that fans can purchase to be able to see the game live.
Those who will be in the Emirates will witness an exciting attacking battle. Both sides will come at each other without stopping but Arsenal will control most of the ball thanks to Arteta’s tactics which will earn his team the win at the end of the match.
Arsenal 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers