The Gunners Host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial Top-Flight Clash
The stage is set for a compelling Premier League contest as front-runners Arsenal entertain bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Team News
Arsenal have made three changes from the side that endured a narrow loss at Villa Park in their previous outing. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all start in the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino are named on the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. The centre-back returns after missing a run of games due to injury.
Wolves also make three adjustments to their starting XI after being skelped 4-1 at home by Manchester United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan start. Hoever and Arias drop to the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is omitted altogether.
Starting Elevens
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.
Referee: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Preamble
Welcome! Because, let's be honest …
The table tells a stark picture. The hosts sit comfortably at the summit of the Premier League, while their opponents anchor the league.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have taken on the team propping up the division – with 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – which team is responsible for two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolverhampton Wanderers, of course! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will surely be anticipating another victory, the Wolves boss must know that long shots occasionally find the target, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. Let's go!
(The other two last-over-first victories in the modern top-flight era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Spurs – yeah, this one sounds a bit weird - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)
