The Gunners Host Wolves in Crucial English Top Division Clash
The stage is set for a intriguing top-flight contest as table-toppers Arsenal entertain struggling Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.
Confirmed Sides
Arsenal have made three changes from the XI that endured a narrow defeat at Aston Villa last weekend. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and the Brazilian winger all come into the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino drop to the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. Saliba returns after sitting out a run of games due to injury.
The visitors also make three adjustments to their starting XI after being heavily defeated 4-1 at home by United last time out. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the bench, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde misses out altogether.
Starting Elevens
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Bench: Arrizabalaga, Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Nwaneri, Merino, Lewis-Skelly.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Johnstone, Mosquera, Agbadou, Toti Gomes, Doherty, Joao Gomes, Andre Trindade, Krejci, Wolfe, Larsen, Hwang.
Substitutes: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
The Setup
Good evening! And I mean, let's be honest …
The table reveals a striking picture. The hosts sit comfortably at the top of the table, while Wolves occupy the bottom of the league.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the Premier League leaders have played the team at the foot of the division – with 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – who are responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! So while Mikel Arteta will surely be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs occasionally come off, and anything is possible. The start is at 8pm GMT. Let's go!
(The other two bottom-beats-top wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)