The Gunners Take On Wolverhampton Wanderers in Key Top-Flight Encounter
The stage is set for a compelling top-flight matchup as league leaders Arsenal entertain struggling Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.
Confirmed Sides
Mikel Arteta's side have made three changes from the team that endured a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park in their previous outing. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli are all included in the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino drop to the bench, while the Italian defender is absent. The centre-back is back after missing five matches due to injury.
The visitors also make three changes to their starting XI following being heavily defeated 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United last time out. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward are recalled. Ki-Jana Hoever and Arias drop to the substitutes, while Bellegarde misses out 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
Match Context
Good evening! Because, look at this …
The table reveals a striking picture. Arsenal sit proudly at the summit of the Premier League, while their opponents occupy the bottom of the league.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd time the top side have faced the team propping up the entire table – with 30 out of 41, with seven draws – which team is behind two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolves, that’s who! So while Mikel Arteta will surely be anticipating another three points, the Wolves boss must know that long shots sometimes succeed, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. The action is imminent!
(The other two bottom-beats-top wins in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)