Arsenal Host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial Top-Flight Encounter
Focus shifts for a intriguing top-flight contest as front-runners the Gunners entertain bottom-placed Wolves to the their home ground.
Team News
Mikel Arteta's side have opted for a trio of alterations following the XI that suffered a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa in their previous outing. The French defender, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the starting eleven. The captain and the Spanish midfielder drop to the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. Saliba returns after sitting out five matches due to injury.
The visitors also make three changes to their starting XI following being heavily defeated 4-1 at home by Manchester United last time out. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan come in. Hoever and Arias are on the substitutes, while Bellegarde is omitted altogether.
The Teams in Full
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Subs: 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.
Match Official: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Preamble
Welcome! Because, c’mon …
The table paints a striking picture. Arsenal sit comfortably at the summit of the Premier League, while their opponents occupy the bottom of the league.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have faced the team at the foot of the entire table – with 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – who are behind two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, of course! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will undoubtedly be expecting another three points, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs sometimes come off, and you never know. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. Let's go!
(The remaining last-over-first victories in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – yeah, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
