Mikel Arteta has revealed how close he was to handing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a start in Arsenal's Premier League game at Wolves.
The Gunners captain is back in the matchday squad following a three-game absence due to personal reasons as well as having to serve a period of quarantine.
However, there's no immediate recall for Aubameyang as Arteta has named an attacking trio of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Nicolas Pepe behind lone striker Alexandre Lacazette.
Not that the Arsenal manager wasn't tempted to hand the 31-year-old an immediate recall.
"I was (tempted to play Auba), but he’s been off for a couple of days due to quarantine rules, he trained one day and he’ll be in good form soon," Arteta told BT Sport ahead of kick-off.
Also among Arsenal's substitutes is January loan signing Martin Odegaard.
When asked if the attacking midfielder will compete with Gunners wonderkid Emile Smith Rowe for a place in the side, Arteta revealed his plan to pair them both in the same side in the future.
"Yes, when we see him (Odegaard) training and how much he wants to play and everyone’s pushing, you think about every possibility but he hasn’t been here long enough and maybe he needs more time," the Gunners boss added.
"They can play together (Smith Rowe and Odegaard), good players can play together."
Wolves went into the game without a Premier League win eight, but Arteta highlighted the threat that Nuno Espirito Santo's side still pose.
"Yes, we know that they’re a team that pick up good results against the top teams," Arteta said. "They need a result but so do we because we want to maintain our form in the Premier League, so it will be a nice game.
"The balance about the goals we’ve conceded and scored is much better.
"We've been really efficient going forward and we've been really solid defending our own goal and when that happens, you pick up loads of points.
"It is, because you need some experience, but you need some youth, some enthusiasm, something new, different energy and the leadership part in the team is really important.
"To get the balance right is not easy and pretty much now we’ve got it."
