Arsenal and Wolves kick off their Premier League campaigns at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where the hosts will be looking to kickstart their season on home soil, whilst Wolves face their sixth successive away trip on opening weekend.
Arsenal have been quiet during the summer transfer window in comparison to recent iterations, with Italian defender Riccardo Califiori being The Gunners' only acquisition thus far - the 22-year-old arrived from Bologna in Serie A.
Gary O'Neil has looked to add further depth to his Wolves squad after an injury crisis saw any potential European charge go up in flames during the latter stages of the last campaign.
Rodrigo Gomes, Pedro Lima and Jørgen Strand Larsen have all been brought in at the time of writing, with O'Neil and the club keen to further strengthen, particularly regarding replacements for both Max Kilman and the recently departing Pedro Neto. The pair have made moves to West Ham and Chelsea respectively.
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Team news
Although Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) won't be fit for Arsenal's Premier League opener, Arteta is hopeful that Jurrien Timber, who tore his ACL during the first weekend last season can overcome a foot issue in time to play.
Timber is among several left-back options for The Gunners, including Riccardo Calafiori, who is set to make his Premier League debut, but Oleksandr Zinchenko's strong pre-season performance likely secures his starting position.
Saturday's match will also mark David Raya's first competitive appearance since his permanent move from Brentford, while Thomas Partey seems poised to start in the number six role as Arsenal continues to pursue Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino.
Arteta and O'Neil share a common challenge with unavailable full-backs, as Nelson Semedo's red card in last season's final game, a 2-0 loss to Liverpool, has left the former Barcelona player suspended for the first three matches of the new season.
With Semedo out, Matt Doherty and new signing Pedro Lima will compete for a starting spot at the Emirates, where O'Neil expects Matheus Cunha (hamstring), Mario Lemina (thigh), and Jorgen Strand Larsen (groin) to be available despite recent injuries.
However, Daniel Podence (calf) and Leon Chiwone (ankle) remain sidelined, while teenage winger Enso Gonzalez, who suffered a severe ACL injury while playing for Paraguay at the Olympics, faces a long recovery, joining the unlucky striker Sasa Kalajdzic in the cruciate injury group.
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Likely lineups
Arsenal: (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Ødegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
Wolves: (4-4-2): Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Sarabia, Lemina, J. Gomes, R. Gomes; Strand Larsen, Hwang.
Key Players
Arsenal - Martin Ødegaard
Arsenal's skipper has a fantastic record in recent times against Wolves, scoring four times against the Old Gold across the last two seasons.
Whilst not reaching the numbers of the season prior, Ødegaard netted eight times whilst providing ten assists throughout the 2023/24 campaign after inheriting the captain's armband from Granit Xhaka in the summer of 2023.
If this is to be the year in which Arsenal claim the Premier League title they crave, Ødegaard will have to be at his absolute best as has been seen for large parts of his time in North London.
Ødegaard was recently nominated for the PFA Players' Player Of The Year award alongside Phil Foden, Rodri and Erling Haaland of Manchester City, Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Chelsea's Cole Palmer.
Wolves - Mario Lemina
Mario Lemina has continued to shift through the gears during his time in the West Midlands, and the performances of the Gabonese have been recognised by Gary O'Neil who awarded the midfielder the captain's armband following the departure of Max Kilman.
Since signing for the club in January 2023, Lemina has become one of the first names on the teamsheet for Wolves, and his relationship with the Molineux faithful continues to blossom.
A hard-working, all-action midfielder, Lemina reliably stands up to be counted. His presence will be huge as Gary O'Neil and his side approach what is a tough opening to the new campaign.
Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The match will take place at Emirates Stadium.
What time is kick-off?
The match will begin at 15:00 BST on Saturday 17th August.
Where can I watch?
The 2024/25 Premier League opener between Arsenal and Wolves falls under the 3pm broadcast blackout in the UK, meaning fans won't be able to watch the game live on any national channel. However, viewers in the US can catch the action on FuboTV, USA Network, NBC Sports, and UNIVERSO.
