Wolves are preparing for their Premier League season opener against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
After a long and positive summer of preparation, Wolves return to action in the Premier League to commence the 2024/25 calendar.
Gary O’Neil will be encouraged by what he’s seen from his players throughout the summer break, with pre-season being a bright time for the Old Gold.
During the break in competitive action, Wolves played six friendlies, winning four against Como, Bristol City, West Ham and Champions League side RB Leipzig.
Now, the real test is fast approaching as a trip to North London to battle Arsenal awaits O’Neil’s side.
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Gary O’Neil hints at Wolves formational change ahead of Arsenal clash
Throughout pre-season, fans have seen O’Neil revert back to playing a back four after reaping the benefits of fielding a back five last season.
The switch to a back four allows Wolves to have more freedom in attack, which seemed to work well for the squad over the summer as more attention was paid to the advanced areas.
Despite Wolves impressing in pre-season when assuming a back four, O’Neil has hinted that he could make an unexpected switch back to playing three centre-back’s against Arsenal, via Express and Star.
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When discussing the impact that Yerson Mosquera could have this season, O’Neil admitted he’s yet to decide who to start at the Emirates.
“Dawson and Santi [Bueno] have both trained extremely hard and have played well in the games when they’ve been used.
“It’s not to say it’s going to be Toti and Yerson [Mosquera], we’ve had a look at them and we’ll review pre-season, look at Arsenal and see what we think is best.
“It may be that we use three, or two. We’ll see what we think is best for the weekend.”
Playing a back five could be smart against Arsenal
One significant factor that could hinge Wolves playing four at the back on Saturday is the fitness of Matheus Cunha, whose role is far more effective when O’Neil lines up with four defenders.
Given that Cunha may not start against Arsenal, the manager’s decision to start with three centre-backs could be smart, with the full-backs being able to offer added support going forward.
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The challenge in North London is expected to be tough for the Midlands club, who despiste showing positive signs in pre-season, will come up against a different calibre of opponent in Mikel Arteta’s side.
It will be interesting to see what decision O’Neil opts for in defence, and whether fans will see a glimpse of what Mosquera has to offer in the Premier League following his revitalising loan spell at Villarreal.