Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are preparing to face Wolves on Wednesday in a crunch Premier League clash after easing past Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round
Ben Crawford GAU Writer
05:00, 17 Feb 2026
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attends a press conference before clash with Wigan Athletic
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has a new plan for one of his star players(Image: Getty)
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal could extend their lead at the Premier League summit to seven points with a victory over Wolves on Wednesday. The fixture follows their comfortable FA Cup triumph against Wigan Athletic at the weekend.
The Gunners' most recent league outing saw them held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford, but they swiftly bounced back with an emphatic 4-0 home win over Wigan to secure their place in the FA Cup fifth round.
Gabriel Jesus found the net in that match and is expected to play a part when Arsenal travel to Molineux. However, the Brazilian's long-term future at the club remains uncertain.
football.london examines the latest developments at the Emirates Stadium, including a potential new strategy from Arteta regarding one of his key attacking players.
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Gabriel Jesus contract update
Following his return from injury, Jesus has proved his worth to Arteta. The forward scored twice in a crucial Champions League victory over Inter Milan last month and also netted in a comprehensive 4-0 triumph against Leeds United.
Yet with the 28-year-old's current deal running until 2027 and no extension signed, questions remain over his future. Whilst Jesus has publicly expressed his contentment at the club, it is a more complex situation behind the scenes.
Arsenal's Brazilian striker #09 Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring the team's fourth goal during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic
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Jesus bagged a goal against Wigan(Image: Getty)
football.london understands that at present, contract discussions with Jesus haven't even commenced. There's also no indication that talks will begin anytime soon, potentially signalling his impending departure from the club.
This aligns with Andrea Berta's more cutthroat approach to squad management. Jesus has made public pleas to extend his stay, but they may be snubbed due to his injury history.
Mikel Arteta's strategy for Bukayo Saka
During the victory against Wigan, a pre-match injury to Riccardo Calafiori prompted Arteta to alter his line-up. Myles Lewis-Skelly was originally set to play in midfield but was instead deployed in his usual left-back position.
In an unexpected tactical switch, Bukayo Saka was the player who filled Lewis-Skelly's midfield role. Arsenal netted four goals within 16 first-half minutes, with one of Saka's deliveries deflected in as an own goal by Jack Hunt.
Noni Madueke of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Bukayo Saka
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Saka played in midfield with Madueke out wide(Image: Getty)
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Speaking post-match, Arteta confirmed he'd like to deploy Saka in midfield at times going forward. The England international linked up effectively with Noni Madueke, who operated on the right flank.
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Arteta said: "That's something that's a possibility and I wanted to try it, and we might use it in the future. There are still so many games, competitions and different scenarios to play in this season, and that's a possibility that we have."
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