The Gunners Host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial Top-Flight Fixture
The stage is set for a intriguing top-flight matchup as front-runners the Gunners entertain struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Starting Lineups
Mikel Arteta's side have introduced three changes from the team that suffered a narrow defeat at Aston Villa in their previous outing. The French defender, the Swedish striker and the Brazilian winger all come into the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder drop to the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. The centre-back returns after sitting out a run of games through injury.
Wolves also have made three changes to their starting XI following being heavily defeated 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Ki-Jana Hoever and Jhon Arias are on the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde misses out 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.
Subs: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Match Official: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
The Setup
Good evening! Because, let's be honest …
The table reveals a clear contrast. Arsenal sit comfortably at the pinnacle of the Premier League, while Wolves prop up the division.
… yet while this will be the 42nd time the top side have faced the side propping up the entire table – with 30 victories from 41, with seven draws – which team is responsible for two of the four all-time upsets? Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! So while the Arsenal manager will undoubtedly be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs occasionally come off, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. It’s on!
(The remaining last-over-first wins in the Premier League era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – yeah, this one sounds a bit weird - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)
