Wolves will need Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to be on top form if they’re to leave Arsenal with points on Saturday.
Gary O’Neil faces the absence of several star players against Arsenal this weekend.
His preferred midfield pairing are both out through suspension while Rayan Ait-Nouri has joined Pedro Neto on the injured list.
Therefore, it’s going to require someone to step up and grab this game by the scruff of the neck for Wolves, and that player could be Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
Bellegarde has gone from strength-to-strength in recent weeks and will be the player Mikel Arteta will be most wary of in this game.
Why Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is the key for Wolves
With the absence of Neto, Wolves had been lacking a proper direct force in attack. With Bellegarde, in recent weeks Wolves have had a similar threat.
For example on Monday at Craven Cottage, Bellegarde was impressive beyond his well-worked assist.
Bellegarde also made two key passes and completed two dribbles along with winning three duels according to SofaScore.
The best comparison though is how good he was against Spurs before the recent international break. Here he took on a huge role and completed five dribbles and won nine duels, dominating for Wolves and offering an escape route from pressure.
He was a constant menace in both these games and was giving his opponents something to think about constantly. If he can do this against Arsenal he could be a strong outlet for Wolves to escape the probable pressure they’ll be under.
How much does Bellegarde earn for Wolves?
Wolves’ ‘excellent‘ midfielder earns a salary of £35k-a-week at Molineux according to Capology.
He signed a five-year deal during the summer window which will see him remain a Wolves player until at least June 2028.
At just 25, Bellegarde still has his prime years ahead of him and is a bargain on his current wage if the last three games are anything to go by.
With a goal and an assist in his last three, Bellegarde now faces his toughest test yet, but could become an instant hero for Wolves if he plays the role we think he could.