Arsenal: 3 reasons why Wolves postponement is beneficial

These are uncertain times. Covid cases are rising among the general public just as they are within football clubs and Arsenal have had their first fixture postponement of the season announced.

Arsenal put Norwich to the sword 5-0 on Sunday as a brace from Bukayo Saka was added to by goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Kieran Tierney and Emile Smith Rowe.

Recording five straight wins in all competitions, including four in the Premier League, momentum was firmly in the Gunners’ favour.

As for Wolves, they would have been presented with nine days’ rest between their last fixture ahead of Tuesday’s game, as opposed to the 45 hours and 30 minutes that Arsenal had. It was due to be a turnover time that heavily favoured one team.

Arsenal: 3 reasons why Wolves postponement is beneficial to Mikel Arteta’s side in busy Premier League fixture schedule

"A statement from Wolves read: “Wolves’ trip to Arsenal on Tuesday 28th December has been postponed, with Bruno Lage having an insufficient number of players available to fulfil the fixture. “A combination of positive Covid-19 test results and injuries led to Wolves requesting for the fixture to be postponed, which was accepted early to give supporters a two-day notice period.”"

Injuries are now factored into any potential postponements and that coupled with positive Covid cases has prompted the decision.

Seeing the incredible form Arsenal are in, with or without the short turnover time, actually made this come across as something of a disappointment. Even with the visitors having more time to prepare, they have only scored two goals in their previous eight Premier League outings, winning only two of those matches.

Nonetheless, this is definitely beneficial to Arsenal, for three reasons.

It goes without saying we wish everyone affected by Covid the best of wishes in their recoveries.

1. Takehiro Tomiyasu Misses Fewer Matches

As the teams were announced for the Boxing Day clash, fans were hit with the news that Takehiro Tomiyasu, Cedric Soares and Ainsley Maitand-Niles had all tested positive for Covid.

With Calum Chambers having already contracted the virus, that brought the Gunners’ total absentees due to Covid to four. All of them are right-backs.

Against Norwich this didn’t prove to be an issue. Benjamin White is not unfamiliar to playing in that position and with a specific role for first choice Tomiyasu, White is actually the most suitable replacement in the side from a profile perspective.

If he’s fit though, Tomiyasu has to play.

He would certainly have missed the Wolves match with isolation laws in the UK stating that people require a week of quarantining before, in the case of footballers, they can return to their jobs so long as they produce two negative tests before that date.

The Manchester City game looks set to come too soon for Tomiyasu, but even if it means one fewer match he’s unavailable it is still a bonus to Arsenal.

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