ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: ARSENE WENGER has warned Arsenal to expect a footballing test when Mick McCarthy brings his battling Wolves side to the Emirates Stadium today.

The Gunners had an extra 24 hours to prepare for the game following the decision to put the fixture back from St Stephen’s Day because of industrial action by some London Underground staff.

While Arsenal have their sights on the top four after bouncing back from the 1-0 defeat at Manchester City with an away win at Aston Villa, Wolves are scrapping for every point to stay clear of a relegation battle.

Wenger has the utmost respect for the job McCarthy is overseeing at the Black Country club, under what have been testing circumstances following criticism from some sections of the Molineux faithful this season.

“Mick McCarthy is doing miracles at Wolves,” Wenger said in his programme notes for today’s match. “He is always ready for a fight, never gives up, keeps his steadiness and mental strength, never shows any strain.

“It is great what he does for his club. I believe they play extremely good football as well.”

Wenger had been impressed by McCarthy’s determination.

“It demands special strength from the manager to fight until the last day with the uncertainty sometimes whether you will stay up,” the Arsenal boss said.

“A manager needs to be cool-blooded, strong, resilient and Mick McCarthy has all of these qualities.”

Arsenal have won eight of their last 10 league games to turn the season around and close to within striking distance of the top four.

But they head towards 2012 with their defence stretched because of injury, which could see Wenger enter the loan market when the transfer window opens again on January 1st.

He is also set to make a decision on whether to bring former captain Thierry Henry back on a short-term deal ahead of the new Major League Soccer season.

Wenger feels having to field four centre-backs across the rearguard has left his team looking for other options when starting attacks. “We are a bit more cautious going forward because a centre-back is not a full-back,” he said.

“Maybe we are a little bit more resilient defensively and a bit stronger in the air, but overall it doesn’t change a lot and we still try to play out from the back with our passing game.”

Swiss international defender Johan Djourou could return from a minor groin problem today, while Wenger must also decide whether to rest skipper Robin van Persie, who is close to breaking the Premier League goals record for a calendar year. With 34 goals he is two short of Alan Shearer’s record.

Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards is in contention to return for McCarthy’s team after a two-game absence with a groin injury.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is favourite to again partner Steven Fletcher up front after netting against Norwich in midweek when preferred to Kevin Doyle.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Adebayor has warned Tottenham they can forget about finishing in the top four unless they perform well over the festive period.

Spurs play at Norwich today before heading to Swansea on New Year’s Day and then they play West Brom on January 3rd at White Hart Lane.

Despite failing to overcome Chelsea last week, Spurs are brimming with confidence having lost just once in their last 14 matches to move up to third in the Premier League.

But with Tottenham just three points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal, Adebayor knows failure to deliver against three teams they are expected to beat over the coming week could cost the club dearly.

“We have to do whatever it takes to win those games if we are going to finish in the top four. Otherwise, forget about it,” the striker said.

Rafael van der Vaart looks set to be in contention for today’s game after his hamstring injury proved less serious than first feared.

The Dutch international was substituted at half-time of Thursday’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea due to the problem, but a subsequent scan showed no tear and he could therefore be in line to play at Carrow Road.

Norwich have exceeded all expectations this season, climbing to ninth in the table in their first season in the top flight for six years. The Canaries are seven points clear of the relegation zone, but Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has warned they could easily slip in to the bottom three if they have a poor second half.

“Norwich have done fantastic. They have done really well,” Redknapp said. But I’m sure they know there have been lots of clubs come up and play very well first half of the season and they know they’ve got to continue that second half, for sure. It’s going to be tight at the bottom.”

Neil Warnock is expecting a tough encounter when he takes his QPR side to Swansea in today’s third Premier League game.

QPR have won three times on the road but just once at home since their return to the top flight and fellow newly promoted side Swansea are two points better off than the west Londoners.

“It is difficult when you go down there because you know you’re not going to get more than 40 per cent of the ball,” said Warnock.