Judging from Arteta's press conference I'm unsure any of our injured players will return v Wolves, maybe they'd be pushed if it was a big game but there really should be no need to risk them. Timber, Saliba, Trossard, Rice are the 4 whose are closest to being back.

If that is so then the main decisions Arteta has to make are at CM, LW, RW

Do you stay with Madueke and Martinelli on the wings, both brimming with confidence and it gives Saka another rest (when else will you rest him if not at home to the worst team in the league). In CM it is likely 2 from 4, Zubimendi starts, then Merino/Ødegaard/Eze/Nwaneri

For me the hardest pick is Saka v Madueke. I'd be minded to stick with Noni and give Saka the break and bring him back in for Everton. If you can give Saka 90 minutes off it will mean he'll have just played 20 minutes of football between 4th Dec and 20th Dec - a nice 2 week mid season rest

My team:
Raya, White, Nørgaard, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Nwaneri, Eze, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyökeres. I'd really like Nwaneri to get a run (but I'm certain he wont - but I like the idea of Nwaneri and Eze as two attacking 10's, both look to drive at and commit opponents and get the ball forward quickly. MLS can invert to help Zubimendi and Matinelli always does a good job up and down on the left side to help against transitions.
Saka, Ødegaard, Merino, Jesus on the bench for reinforcements

I think the logical thing is to rest as many key players as possible. Besides helping with their recovery (those coming back from injury), it will prevent any possibility of a recurrence (of injury). Keep them on the bench in case they are needed.

MLS, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Madueke and Jesus should start the game.

I'd say Meriono over Nwaneri. I know it's Wolves but they are premier league team and they may sniff blood if we make too many changes. Merino gives a little bit more solidity.

Interesting to see the kids who left for Manu (Heaven and Chido Obi) haven't exactly been playing many games

I suspect they'd have progressed better if they had stayed

Interesting article in the New York Times about Arsenal fan Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City.

"In September, Mr. Mamdani squeezed into a corner seat at FancyFree, a Fort Greene bar, to watch an Arsenal match with Spike Lee, the film director, and dozens of members of the Brooklyn Invincibles, a local fan club.
Mr. Mamdani has experienced his own star-struck moments this year. At a news conference the day after the election, he momentarily lost his composure when a British correspondent asked a question.
“To be honest, when you said you were from Sky News, I just got very excited,” Mr. Mamdani said, explaining that he used to spend hours watching the network for soccer transfer news. “Could you repeat the question one more time?”
His devotion to Arsenal, exists in another dimension altogether.
Last month, he appeared on “The Adam Friedland Show,” a comedy podcast, where he was introduced as “mayor-elect of New York City and the former striker for the Bronx Science Wolverines.”
Before the interview, Mr. Friedland pulled out his phone and surprised his guest with a personalized video message from Ian Wright, a former English striker who starred for Arsenal in the 1990s.
Mr. Mamdani gripped the device and practically melted in his seat.
“What?!” he said, gazing into the screen. “I love you.”"

Arne Slot: "I wonder if there are more teams who had to play 3 games in 7 days this season, and we had to do this 3 times already this season...."

Umm, wouldn't every team in european football play 3 games in 7 days every time they have a midweek european match?

Slot: “I’m almost happy we’re out of the League Cup given we only have 13 fit (senior) outfield players.”

Slot this season has come out with more bizarre excuses than Arteta has ever done. It is such a strange thing that even educated people in football will say Arteta moans and blames everything else if we don't win, and it couldn't be further from the truth. It gets spun that way but he talks more about us than any excuses.

Yes, that's a fair shout. I'm wary of Nwaneri's game time, and if he's not starting at home to Wolves with all our injuries is he just restricted to league cup and 10 minute cameos?

I agree and believe they would have been better off staying put. Their loss.

Jesus looked great, but Brugge were well beaten and, much as I love what he can bring when he is playing well, he has flattered to deceive in the past, failing to hold onto the ball, wandering all over the pitch, and fluffing his lines when he does get a chance. Not to mention the injuries.

The problem with the 'trident' theory is that it can become a single-pointed spear with Merino/Jesus/Havertz playing too deep and the left side ineffective, and it is a bit too easy to contain.

Gyökeres' inability to get involved in the last two games has been striking. However, he did seem to be getting better just before his injury, and we did seem to be moving the ball forward more quickly. I hope we persist with him. I see him as our starter in most games, with Havertz and Jesus getting plenty of minutes, and Havertz starting some of the bigger games.

I agree, Rich. Nwaneri is rated as one of the best teenagers in European football. We saw what he could do last season. Furthermore, he is very secure in possession, which is always one of the main concerns with a young player. He is far too good to be restricted to starts in the League Cup.

Chido Obi has only just turned 18. He is the youngest player to ever start a PL game for Man Utd. Young players get released by clubs all of the time. I would imagine that both deals provided a degree of financial security to the players. The two of them had to consider what was best for them financially.

Also, Man Utd are in the odd position of essentially playing one game per week due to having no European football and managing to lose their only league cup match.

There are absolutely no guarantees whatsoever that they would get more games at Arsenal. We have a far better squad.

Gyökeres could make or break our season.

When we first signed him everyone hoped he could translate his epic goal scoring exploits in the Portuguese league to the Premier League. No one expected 50 goals, of course, but many, like me, were hoping for maybe half that which would make him a superstar centre forward in this league.

Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons it just hasn't happened. His robust playing style does not carry the same effectiveness against the stronger, faster, more physical defenders in the PL but he also suffers from the fact he is mostly playing against low blocks and our chance creation for him just feels hopelessly poor.

He's a bit clunky and bulky and his hold-up play lacks finesse which doesn't help matters. His highlight reel from Portugal suggests he can score all manner of goals including ones he has made for himself so I can only think that the step-up in quality has just been too much so far.

I've heard people say his wrestling with defenders occupies them and allows more space for the likes of Saka and Trossard and they may have a point but is that really enough at this level?

If I am honest, I am yet to see too many "wow" moments that make be think this is an elite level striker and it's just a matter of time before he starts smashing them in.

I think it may be more than just a crisis of confidence and a lack of chances.

I hope I am wrong because Havertz and Gabby Jesus are far from prolific either.

A well know British actor has bought a holiday home here in my town. His partner was in my shop yesterday purchasing a few items and she got a call. I over heard her say they were in New York at some meeting or conference when the actor spotted Arsene. She said her partner, this actor who is a mad Gooner, was too awestruck to go over and talk to him so she approached Arsene. She said he was a thorough gentleman.

Gabby rowing during a 6 a side match in south London

As if you couldn’t love the guy even more

Team will be interesting today, I imagine a lot hangs on the fitness of saliba and Declan.

If Declan is fit that will make a difference but if he is what happens to Eze.

Madueke probably shoe horned in on the left after his decent display then hooked when we realise it’s not working.

If he's fit I think this is a game for Trossard.

on the train to the smoke for a few sherberts then the game

is it worth pointing out that an 8pm kick off on a saturday for a side based in the midlands is *%^@*** ridiculous, inexcusable and totally avoidable.

by all means take the TV contract but give the away fans free tickets or something. To be honest it’s bad enough for home folks who need to travel

*%^@ global commercialism and the elites

A future good luck to Takehiro Tomiyasu on his 6 month start at Ajax.

It’s our strength but also our weakness that we spread the goals around. We don’t rely on one player to save us but sometimes in tight games you need that inevitable player to step up and score something from nothing, or the one chance they get all day. We still don’t have that yet.

Liverpool lucky today- Etikike sharpness the difference between defeat and victory - Brighton had higher Xg at Anfield!

Again the pundits giving Slot generous coverage despite a very average performance- once again based their reviews on scoreline and not the actual game

in the list of all time greats where do The Clash feature ?

32nd

In terms of cultural significance, inside the top 10 for UK bands.

In terms of musicality, top 30.

For sure there are some great tracks and for a punk era band I’d say they were the best at playing their instruments and creating tunes. Maybe The Stranglers run them close. I can put them on and enjoy them coz they are magnificent, but personally I prefer listening to many other bands if settling down for a session. And that’s not just an age thing. I’ve always preferred The Who, The Stones, Thin Lizzy, Humble Pie, The Pretenders. But culturally The Clash are just as important as anyone out there. If someone tells me The Clash are their favourite band there’s nothing wrong with that. If someone says Coldplay I’m reaching for a weapon.

For our game v Everton next weekend they look like they’ll be missing Gueye, Ndiaye both off to AFCON and possibly Dewsbury-Hall who went off injured today

We haven’t played that well in a few of our home games this season. Need to put down a marker today so other teams don’t expect anything when they play us at home.

Gyökeres has been unlucky ; he scored a couple then got injured this is the game for him ; play him and a revitalised Jesus upfront with Modueke as a front three

I heard an Arteta interview ; he wisely recognises Viktor is just suffering from a lapse in confidence .
he takes up the correct positions just things haven't flowed his way
Score one or two today and the shackles will be lifted .

Of course the media and pundits love it ; for some , Arsenal being stuck with a 68 million pound lemon is manna from heaven .

interesting 11.

Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Martinelli, Gyökeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Nørgaard, Merino, Ødegaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Madueke, Jesus.

Raya, white, Saliba, Hincapie, timber, Zubimendi, rice, eze, Saka, Martinelli, Gyökeres

Great to have Saliba, Timber and Rice back - that’s a lot of strength.

Interesting to see timber at left back ahead of MLS.

Trossard on the bench

Right, despite my reservations about Gyökeres I want him to bag a hat-trick tonight.

Come on Victor show me something, anything, to make me believe.

Hi Rich,

Do we really need to be playing both Rice and Zubimendi in this game?

Could we not play MLS at LB and give Timber a bit more rest?

This is one of the very few PL games where you can take a bit of a risk with players who could benefit from minutes. If not this game then when?

Ødegaard on the bench too. He was warned it might happen. I applaud a brave move by Mikel.

Yep I’ve got to be really honest here and I’m disappointed. At home against the very worst team in the league, it’s not about taking them lightly although I don’t give a *%^@ about that, we need to rest Timber and MLS needs starts. Little bit perplexed tbh.

Nah, I think it's a good plan. Steamroller them and then take it easy.

Let's hope it works!

There’s no need to rest today as we have a whole week til Everton

The rotation will be needed for the 5 games in 14 days from Everton onwards

Timber at centre back. Hincapie at left back

If there’s no risk to timber, and it’s at least mitigated being at CB to be fair. He’s still recently coming off an injury though is my concern. Maybe he’s thinking Hincapie and MLS is a little inexperienced as a left side of defence which is also fair. Let’s see, yeah if we can get a couple before HT and rest some later.

Are you sure? Hincapie looks to be at CB.

Timber lucky to escape a booking there.

Comms just said the ball has only been in play for 10 minutes out of the first 22 mins. Dire. We have to do more to keep the ball moving and up the tempo

Pedestrian so far. We like progressively passing to a wide man rather than a quick switch don’t we. Saka with a good dribble in behind. And wow we forgot to defend there!!

I think you're right. Hincapie at FB.