The Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Premier League Matchday 27, 18 February 2026

Tonerl · Feb 17, 2026

Molineux Stadium hosts a rearranged kickoff from 8:00pm GMT/3:00pm EST/10:00am HST. Peacock (?) has the television coverage Stateside.

Wolves have been better under Rob Edwards, whose teams have given us trouble before, and they’re coming off a chastening defeat. So we can expect a super-compact grindey kind of a game from them. With the derby at the weekend we might be tempted to rotate, but this is an absolute must-win with City/Palace yet to be rescheduled. Is this an opportunity to see more of Saka inside and make progress towards a more defined though possibly less predictable attacking model? Let’s do this.

Up the Arsenal.

DaPrince84 · Feb 17, 2026

White and Caladona are available tomorrow

Havertz and Odegaard this weekend
https://www.arsenal.com/news/artetas-update-havertz-calafiori-and-white

6 ft. Leprechaun · Feb 17, 2026

DaPrince84 said: ↑

White and Caladona are available tomorrow

Havertz and Odegaard this weekend
https://www.arsenal.com/news/artetas-update-havertz-calafiori-and-white
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Good news. If both Kai and MO are fit for Sunday, I wonder who starts at R8.

NorthBank · Feb 17, 2026

As important as 3pts are at Molineux, it's bottom dwelling Wolves we're talking about here. And if certain players have just become "available" I would like Mikel to use extra caution about using them. At least don't start them. E.g. if MLS is 100% fit and Calafiori/Hincapie are just barely fit, I'd give Myles another start at LB... assuming he's OK for 2 games in 3 days that is.

Pemulis · Feb 17, 2026

Please let's just attack quickly. It's a strength.

leppercut · Feb 17, 2026

NorthBank said: ↑

As important as 3pts are at Molineux, it's bottom dwelling Wolves we're talking about here. And if certain players have just become "available" I would like Mikel to use extra caution about using them. At least don't start them. E.g. if MLS is 100% fit and Calafiori/Hincapie are just barely fit, I'd give Myles another start at LB... assuming he's OK for 2 games in 3 days that is.
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yeah that's the hard part. We have some players coming back but we just had a game 2 days ago that a lot of their replacements went 60 or 90

Plumstead Common · Feb 17, 2026

DaPrince84 said: ↑

White and Caladona are available tomorrow

Havertz and Odegaard this weekend
https://www.arsenal.com/news/artetas-update-havertz-calafiori-and-white
Click to expand...

Has there been one week this season where top 18 players have been healthy

CarlosKaiser · Feb 17, 2026

We don't really know what happened to Calafiori. It's possible that had it been a cup final he would have given it a go, but being Wigan and with an abundance of caution, they decided to swap him out and not risk an early sub.

Havertz back at the weekend would be a pleasant surprise, I saw reports he would miss the NLD.

leppercut · Feb 17, 2026

CarlosKaiser said: ↑

We don't really know what happened to Calafiori. It's possible that had it been a cup final he would have given it a go, but being Wigan and with an abundance of caution, they decided to swap him out and not risk an early sub.

Havertz back at the weekend would be a pleasant surprise, I saw reports he would miss the NLD.
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the first report on Kai was that he could miss the NLD but there was chance he'd be back. Not sure if something new was reported.

And_ROOS · Feb 17, 2026

Pemulis said: ↑

Please let's just attack quickly. It's a strength.
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I know people were saying "it's just Wigan" but there's still space for the direct balls Eze and Norgaard were playing, I dunno maybe we try those against a Wolves team who are barely a championship side lately?

DaPrince84 · Feb 17, 2026

Plumstead Common said: ↑

Has there been one week this season where top 18 players have been healthy
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Won’t be this season since Merino is out

leppercut · Feb 18, 2026

Saka central

CarlosKaiser · Feb 18, 2026

Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres
Subs: Kepa, Mosquera, White, Jesus, Eze, Norgaard, Trossard, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly

mebeSajid · Feb 18, 2026

Saka at 8 whoa.

NorthBank · Feb 18, 2026

mebeSajid said: ↑

Saka at 8 whoa.
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But not really too whoa, right? 2nd game in a row he's in MF as 8/10. Maybe the new trend, at least until Ode's 100%?

Noni's been pretty nailed on lately. And sadly it's a bit of a no-confidence vote for Eze.

The front and back lines are no real surprise either. Mikel's considering form, fitness & rotation pretty sensibly it seems.

Personally I'm a little disappointed that Hincapie starts over MLS, who seems fitter. But I'm also not surprised that's the decision.

NorthBank · Feb 18, 2026

Just checked Peacock... there may be zero pre-game show for this one? Or maybe we get the refreshing raw-feed of stadium ambience 10-15 mins before KO?

mebeSajid · Feb 18, 2026

NorthBank said: ↑

But not really too whoa, right? 2nd game in a row he's in MF as 8/10. Maybe the new trend, at least until Ode's 100%?

Noni's been pretty nailed on lately. And sadly it's a bit of a no-confidence vote for Eze.

The front and back lines are no real surprise either. Mikel's considering form, fitness & rotation pretty sensibly it seems.

Personally I'm a little disappointed that Hincapie starts over MLS, who seems fitter. But I'm also not surprised that's the decision.
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In a league match it's absolutely a whoa.

ArsenalMetro · Feb 18, 2026

NorthBank said: ↑

But not really too whoa, right? 2nd game in a row he's in MF as 8/10.
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Last week wasn’t exactly planned. It’s a big change to train for it and do it on purpose.

He hadn’t started in that role for 5 years.

And_ROOS · Feb 18, 2026

mebeSajid said: ↑

In a league match it's absolutely a whoa.
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Absolutely agree.
Also hope that if the game is on ice early enough that Norgaard at 6 and Eze at L8 are swaps we make to rest Zubi and Rice.

Wonder if we get "Cup Martinelli with a point to prove' or if we get "starting 11 EPL Martinelli who holds up play badly".

Plumstead Common · Feb 18, 2026

This game is going to be a shit show

6 ft. Leprechaun · Feb 18, 2026

mebeSajid said: ↑

Saka at 8 whoa.
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There was an article earlier this week where Arteta hinted this was going to happen. Partially because Saka was excited/eager about playing centrally.

6 ft. Leprechaun · Feb 18, 2026

Plumstead Common said: ↑

This game is going to be a shit show
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Why?

mebeSajid · Feb 18, 2026

6 ft. Leprechaun said: ↑

There was an article earlier this week where Arteta hinted this was going to happen. Partially because Saka was excited/eager about playing centrally.
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Really interesting, partly because part of what Odegaard did was pick up the ball deep and carry it forward, and that's not really Saka's game (I think).

Makes me wonder if we expect Odegaard to have long-term availability issues.

6 ft. Leprechaun · Feb 18, 2026

mebeSajid said: ↑

Really interesting, partly because part of what Odegaard did was pick up the ball deep and carry it forward, and that's not really Saka's game (I think).

Makes me wonder if we expect Odegaard to have long-term availability issues.
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With Zubi and Rice, I don't expect Saka to drop nearly as far as MO.

ArsenalMetro · Feb 18, 2026

mebeSajid said: ↑

Really interesting, partly because part of what Odegaard did was pick up the ball deep and carry it forward, and that's not really Saka's game (I think).

Makes me wonder if we expect Odegaard to have long-term availability issues.
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He's been having long-term "killing our attack" issues so I'm excited for a new look.