Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Wolves: 5 key players to watch – Absolute must-win

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal, Nicolas Pepe (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal, Nicolas Pepe (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JUNE 24: Ruben Neves of Wolverhampton Wanderers runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and AFC Bournemouth at Molineux on June 24, 2020 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JUNE 24: Ruben Neves of Wolverhampton Wanderers runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and AFC Bournemouth at Molineux on June 24, 2020 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images) /

4. Ruben Neves

Wolves ate a superb team. They are cohesive, excellently coached, boast some brilliant individual players, are defensively sound, and explode on the counter-attack like some of the best units in the Premier League. And at the heart of it all is central midfielder, Ruben Neves.

Neves is known for his range of passing and long-range shots. He is a superb striker of the ball and helps instigate Wolves’ counters from deep positions. But he also offers more to the team than just highlight-reel moments. He conducts play, he is difficult to press, he carries the ball forward at times, and he is defensively aware and well-positioned.

The Arsenal central midfield has looked unconvincing, to say the least, this season. That Granit Xhaka, who we will get to, is utterly necessary to the unit illustrates how lacking the other options are. Neves has the skill and ability to run this game. If Arsenal are not able to disrupt his passing rhythm and put pressure on his distribution, it will be a very long game indeed.