ESPN Soccernet Preview: Wolves v Arsenal

• Live on ESPN UK at 17.30 GMT

Wolves face the daunting challenge of a visit from in-form Arsenal on Saturday as they seek to remain outside the relegation zone. They are currently above Blackburn on goal difference alone and, given that Arsenal currently top the Premier League scoring charts (despite having played one game fewer than Chelsea and Manchester United), may fear the worst.

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Cesc Fabregas has had a great start to the season.

That said, Wolves look to be starting to enjoy their role as the underdog: in their last three games, they have taken draws at Everton and Stoke as well as holding Aston Villa at Molineux. With Arsenal having allowed leads to slip to draw with AZ Alkmaar and West Ham in recent weeks, there is hope that they can steal a point.

Yet Arsenal are high in confidence and, while they have struggled against defensive sides in the past, they will now feel capable of scoring against any side. They have beaten Everton 6-1 and Blackburn 6-2 already and go into the match on the back of a 3-0 win over Tottenham and a 4-1 win over AZ Alkmaar. Arsene Wenger believes the team is more mature and patient this season; Mick McCarthy's belief that his team can beat anyone on their day may be put to the test.

Wolves player in focus: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Last season's top scorer in the Championship has so far struggled to make the grade in the Premier League, but he remains the most likely man to help Wolves spring a shock. He was surprisingly dropped for the 2-2 draw at Stoke after opening his account for the season the previous weekend with a penalty in the 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa.

Arsenal player in focus: Cesc Fabregas. While Andrei Arshavin was stealing most of the headlines in the second part of last season, Fabregas has reasserted himself as the club's real star this time around. He has rediscovered his best form and he now looks as potent in front of goal as he did at the start of the 2007-08 season.

Key battle: Karl Henry v Cesc Fabregas. Henry is a hard-working defensive midfielder with the ability to stifle creative talents. With Fabregas currently at the heart of Arsenal's best work, Henry could go some way towards restricting their creativity if he successfully carries out a one-on-one marking job on the talented Spaniard.

Tactics: Wolves adopted a defensive approach when they took on Manchester United in the Carling Cup and they are likely to try to shut the visitors down and try to nick a goal from a set-piece. Karl Henry and Segundo Castillo are likely to be tasked with breaking down the play. Arsenal are now playing a 4-3-3, or 4-3-2-1, with Robin van Persie up front and the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Andriy Arshavin and Samir Nasri providing the invention.

Quotes: Robin van Persie on the game: "It is a very crucial time for us now. Against Wolves, it is a must-win game for us, given that Chelsea and Man United are playing each other."

Wolves defender George Elokobi: "You have to respect all teams in the Premier League, whether it's Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea, but at the same time we also have to play our own game as well. We go into it believing we can get a result."

In the news: Arsenal could be on the verge of a takeover. American sports magnate Stan Kroenke looks set to make an offer for the club as he continues to buy shares and Arsene Wenger admits a deal looks possible, albeit "not inevitable".

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Sylvan Ebanks-Blake should return to the side.

Wolves team news: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake looks likely to replace Chris Iwelumo in attack after the Scotland striker did little to stake his claim for a regular place in the 2-2 draw with Stoke. Defender Kevin Foley, last year's player of the season, remains very doubtful with a knee ligament problem while fellow defender Stephen Ward and midfielder David Jones are ruled out.

Arsenal team news: Arsenal are without several prominent players through injury, with Gael Clichy, Theo Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson the most notable. Samir Nasri, who recently returned from a broken leg, could be rested after featuring against AZ Alkmaar, with Tomas Rosicky his most likely replacement.

Probable Wolves line-up (4-4-2): Hennessey, Zubar, Berra, Craddock, Elokobi, Edwards, Henry, Castillo, Kightly, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake.

Probable Arsenal line-up (4-3-3): Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Fabregas, Diaby, Rosicky, Arshavin, Van Persie.

Soccernet prediction: Arsenal are in blistering form and, although Wolves are capable of causing them problems if things go their way, an away win seems by far the most likely outcome.