Despite losing to Arsenal in the Premier League tonight, one player in particular would have impressed Gary O’Neil with his performance.
Wolves gave a valiant effort against title chasers Arsenal but were beaten 2-0 on the night as goals on the stroke of half-time and full-time from Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard handed them a defeat.
Gary O’Neil knew it would take a monumental performance to get a result from tonight’s game. The Wanderers arrived depleted by injuries and only had 10 senior outfield players fit for the clash, naming 15-year-old Wesley Okoduwa on the bench.
The latest casualties he suffered to his squad came after the Nottingham Forest game as Nelson Semedo and Matheus Cunha, two key players for Wolves, were unavailable tonight.
As a result, O’Neil started 20-year-old Tawanda Chirewa up top, who impressed alongside Hwang Hee-Chan, as did another hardly-used player in the middle of the park.
Boubacar Traore impressed in midfield against Arsenal
Boubacar Traore made his fourth Premier League start of the season against Arsenal tonight.
The Malian midfield destroyer was deployed next to Tommy Doyle and Joao Gomes in midfield, as Mario Lemina dropped to the bench.
Traore has struggled to earn regular first-team opportunities since arriving on a permanent deal last year, but the 22-year-old showed what he is capable of against one of the league’s elite sides.
A destructive force in the centre of the park, the former FC Metz player held his own against the likes of Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, three arguably world-class talents.
He showed he was comfortable with taking the ball on the half turn and maneuvering out of tight spaces by recording a 90% pass completion and one dribble, though it was his work defensively that stood out.
Traore won an impressive eight ground duels, six tackles and made one interception. As far as defensive performances go, this was right up there and O’Neil can use him as a deep-lying midfielder.
Boubacar Traore can unlock Joao Gomes further forward
Traore was the standout performer for Wolves, consistently breaking up play and excelling in Joao Gomes’ usual role as a midfield destroyer.
Gomes has been a revelation alongside Lemina, who impressed off the bench, but having Traore in the side can unlock the Brazilian in the final third.
In a more advanced role against the Gunners, the 23-year-old looked strong when driving forward and was unfortunate not to score when David Raya denied him with a quality save.
Traore’s introduction in the starting XI gives O’Neil the option to play him as a single pivot in defensive midfield while giving Gomes the license to roam further forward.
This will only benefit Wolves in certain matches, and as seen tonight, it’s a formula that can work effectively in the final five games.