Thursday, November 11, 2010

No new worries for Wolves

Wolves have no new injury problems ahead of their Barclays Premier League match at home to Arsenal.

Jody Craddock is still getting back to fitness after recovering from a hip injury, while Ronald Zubar is out with an ankle complaint.

Adlene Guedioura's broken leg makes him a long-term absentee. Michael Kightly is recovering from an operation on his knee.

For a man whose team has won just one league game since the opening day of the season, Mick McCarthy cut a relaxed figure at the team's training ground.

The former Republic of Ireland boss' confidence comes from a belief his current team is better than the Wolves side that avoided the drop last year with two games to spare.

He said: "I think we are better, playing better football and having better performances than we did at this stage last season.

"We're on similar points, and my belief as always is that the games are there and we'll pick up the points if we keep playing like this.

"There's a real belief that we are a better side.''

Arsenal go into the game on the back of two straight defeats, and McCarthy is wary of a reaction.

"I would think they'll be smarting,'' he said.

Laurent Koscielny will miss out for Arsenal after seeing his appeal against his sending-off against Newcastle dismissed.

Koscielny will serve an immediate two-match ban, joining fellow centre-half Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), midfielder Abou Diaby (ankle), left-back Kieran Gibbs (knee) and Aaron Ramsey (broken leg) on the sidelines.

Should goalkeeper Manuel Almunia recover from an elbow injury, he could supplant Lukasz Fabianski in goal. Andrey Arshavin is also pushing for a start after coming off the bench on Saturday, although the best fellow forward Robin van Persie (ankle) can hope for is another substitute appearance.

Arsenal romped to a 4-1 win at Molineux last season but needed a stoppage-time goal to beat them in the reverse fixture as Wolves adapted to life back in the Premier League.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "Wolves are a side which everybody respects because, before you go there, you know they will give you a tough game with full commitment.

"They play good football and, for anybody to go to Wolves, it is a difficult game.''

Source: ESPN Soccernet on 9 Nov 10

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