Ødegaard Misses Arsenal Squad Due to Illness, Merino Sidelined with Knock as Arteta Names Lineup vs Wolves

Arsenal's captain, Martin Ødegaard, has been omitted from the matchday squad against Wolverhampton Wanderers due to illness.

 Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed, "Martin was ill this morning and we had to send him back; he was nowhere near fit to play." Additionally, midfielder Mikel Merino sustained a knock and was unable to participate in training, rendering him unavailable for selection.

The starting lineup for Arsenal features Raya in goal; a defense comprising Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, and Lewis-Skelly; a midfield trio of Partey, Rice, and Nwaneri; and an attacking trio of Trossard, Martinelli, and Havertz. The substitutes' bench includes goalkeepers Neto and Porter, along with defenders Tierney, Zinchenko, Calafiori, and Kiwior, and midfielders Jorginho, Sterling, and Butler-Oyedeji.

Notably, the bench includes four left-backs: Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jakub Kiwior. This selection underscores the current injury challenges within the squad, necessitating strategic adjustments in player deployment.