The Gunners Host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial Top-Flight Encounter
All eyes turn for a compelling top-flight contest as table-toppers Arsenal welcome bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Team News
Arsenal have made a trio of alterations from the team that suffered a narrow defeat at Aston Villa last weekend. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and the Brazilian winger are all included in the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino are named on the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. The centre-back returns after missing five matches due to injury.
Wolves also have made three changes to their lineup after being soundly beaten 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward are recalled. Hoever and Arias are on the bench, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is not in the squad altogether.
Starting Elevens
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Substitutes: 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.
Bench: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Match Official: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
The Setup
Welcome! Because, let's be honest …
The standings reveals a stark contrast. The hosts sit comfortably at the pinnacle of the Premier League, while Wolves prop up the division.
… yet while this will be the 42nd time 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 behind two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolves, of course! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will surely be anticipating another three points, the Wolves boss must know that long shots sometimes find the target, and anything is possible. The start is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
(The remaining last-over-first victories in the Premier League era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)
