Arsenal fixture list to test Gunners’ attacking credentials

The break in fixtures for Arsenal arrived at a welcome time. Having gone through all five matches of January without picking up a single win, taking a step back and recharging the batteries was key.

A torrid month on the field was met with interesting decisions in the transfer market, those made more peculiar given the side netted just the solitary goal across that quintet of fixtures.

That all builds up to a February with just the two fixtures to play: a huge clash away at Wolves followed by a home visit of Brentford, and then another halt in fixtures for the final international break of the season.

However, having needed to rearrange four Premier League matches, one of those has been sandwiched in at the end of the month, another clash with Wolves, this time at the Emirates.

Arsenal fixture list to test Gunners’ attacking credentials in Premier League double-header against Wolves’ outstanding defence

On the positive front it bulks the month out and spares the long wait between matches, while on the other hand it pits Arsenal up twice against the side with the best defensive record after Manchester City.

Bruno Lage’s side aren’t the most entertaining in the division with their 19 goals scored putting them ahead of only Burnley and Norwich in the goalscoring table, but their exceptional defensive structure presents Arsenal with the challenge they could do with least: finding the back of the net.

The issue of Arsenal not scoring has been slightly overblown. As poor as January was it came just after a storming December where the goal rippled 21 times in seven games, a period where Martin Odegaard found his shooting and Gabriel Martinelli announced himself on the Premier League stage.

Even if there were some weaker opponents on that run there was a fluidity to Arsenal, the kind that Mikel Arteta had been working in the background the produce. January was an undoubted setback, though, even if those five matches included Manchester City, Liverpool twice, a patched up team at Nottingham Forest and a resolute Burnley.

Aiming to rediscover that scoring touch, a Wolves team who concede an average of just 0.76 goals per game would nonetheless be unfavourable opposition to face.

This is an Arsenal side refreshed and raring to go. Travelling up to Molineux is a daunting task to kick-start the final 17 matches of the season. If Arsenal can break down a well-drilled back three who dominate the air, are aggressive in their one-vs-one challenges and well guarded by a congested midfield then it will provide the significant confidence boost they need heading into the remaining games.

Should they fall short then undoubtedly all the criticism will be threaded through the prism of the January window. It’s a huge task on their hands. If the do overcome it, though, they could effectively rule a side out of the top four running, which is even greater incentive.