The Gunners Face Wolves in Crucial Top-Flight Fixture
Focus shifts for a intriguing top-flight contest as front-runners the Gunners host bottom-placed Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.
Team News
Arsenal have made three changes following the XI that endured a narrow loss at Aston Villa in their previous outing. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the lineup. The captain and Mikel Merino drop to the bench, while the Italian defender is absent. The centre-back returns after sitting out five matches due to injury.
The visitors also have made three changes to their starting XI after being soundly beaten 4-1 at home by United last time out. Matt Doherty, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward start. Hoever and Arias drop to the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is omitted altogether.
The Teams in Full
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Bench: 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.
Subs: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Match Official: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
The Setup
Welcome! And I mean, look at this …
The standings tells a stark picture. Arsenal sit proudly at the pinnacle 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 at the foot of the division – with 30 out of 41, with seven draws – who are behind two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolves, that’s who! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be expecting another victory, the Wolves boss must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and you never know. The start is at 8pm GMT. Let's go!
(The remaining bottom-beats-top wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Spurs – admittedly, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
