Mikel Merino done deal, Trossard to start”, Possible Arsenal XI to face Wolves as Mikel Arteta finally makes Ramsdale decision

Arsenal is gearing up to commence their Premier League campaign against Wolves on Saturday, with Mikel Arteta’s squad eager to make a decisive early impact in the title race. Following a successful pre-season, which saw convincing victories over Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon, the team appears well-prepared, though a few injury concerns persist.

Jurrien Timber, who spent most of his debut season sidelined due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, also missed the final pre-season games because of a foot issue. While Timber was expected to return to training earlier this week, his participation in the match against Wolves remains doubtful. Additionally, Takehiro Tomiyasu, who was absent during the US pre-season tour due to a knee injury, is reportedly still several weeks away from rejoining the squad, according to Arteta.

Arsenal fans got their first look at summer signing Riccardo Calafiori during the match against Lyon, where the Italian defender played the last 25 minutes. Calafiori, having impressed in pre-season, is hopeful of making his competitive debut on Saturday. However, Arteta may opt for Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, given Zinchenko’s role in a consistent back four in the closing pre-season matches, alongside Ben White, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhaes.

Apart from Calafiori, Arsenal’s starting lineup is expected to closely resemble last season’s squad, which pushed Manchester City in the title race. Kai Havertz, who finished the previous season as Arteta’s preferred striker, is likely to lead the attack as the team looks to rectify last season’s errors and begin their title push with a strong performance.