Arsenal Host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Pivotal Top-Flight Fixture
Focus shifts for a fascinating top-flight matchup as table-toppers the Gunners welcome rock-bottom Wolves to the their home ground.
Confirmed Sides
Arsenal have opted for three changes following the side that endured a narrow loss at Villa Park in their previous outing. William Saliba, the Swedish striker and the Brazilian winger are all included in the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder are named on the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is absent. Saliba is back after sitting out five matches through injury.
Wolves also make three adjustments to their starting XI after being heavily defeated 4-1 at Molineux by United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and the South Korean forward come in. Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the substitutes, while 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.
Bench: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
The Setup
Welcome! Because, look at this …
The table tells a stark picture. Arsenal sit comfortably at the top of the Premier League, while Wolves prop up the league.
… yet while this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have taken on 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? Indeed, Wolves, that’s who! So while Mikel Arteta will surely be anticipating another victory, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs sometimes come off, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. The action is imminent!
(The remaining last-over-first victories in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Spurs – yeah, this one sounds a bit weird - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
