Wolves are heading to The Emirates without both Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes this weekend through suspension, a big problem for Gary O’Neil.
Monday night was a bad night by all accounts for Wolves, losing 3-2 to Fulham with VAR controversies stealing the headlines once again. Fulham were given two penalties in the game which were both highly controversial.
Fulham were also lucky not to be down to nine men in the game, with Carlos Vinicius and Tim Ream both committing possible red card offences. Jamie Carragher branded all these decisions as ‘extremely harsh’.
But without a doubt, Gary O’Neil will have been fuming over a moment which was caused by his own players. Both Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina picked up yellow cards which has left both now suspended for the trip to Arsenal.
In their absence, it seems likely a pivot of Tommy Doyle and Boubacar Traore will start, however for Gary O’Neil this could represent a huge problem.
Gary O’Neil faces a huge problem
With Doyle and Traore, Wolves will have a pairing who have only played 400 minutes combined in the Premier League all season according to Transfermarkt.
This is a massive reduction on game sharpness and experience from the usual duo of Lemina and Gomes who have played a combined 1920 minutes, much of this together.
While this will be a worry for Wolves, especially against a team like Arsenal who boast a very strong midfield, it is also a huge opportunity for both Doyle and Traore.
Doyle is on loan from Manchester City and will see this game as a chance to show what he can do, given he has seen fairly limited minutes so far.
In terms of what both bring to the team, they do match up stylistically with both being decent on the ball and off it.
Can Wolves survive without Lemina?
Lemina has been arguably Wolves’ best player in the last few months and is also so consistent. Starting 12 games out of 13, Lemina is a player O’Neil has become somewhat reliant on.
Upon receiving his yellow, the player was seen visibly furious with himself and O’Neil will also be.
Massive shoes to fill for the two youngsters, but we are inclined to believe they are capable of filling the gaps needed.
If not, it could be a long day for Wolves against Mikel Arteta’s side.