The Gunners Face Wolves in Crucial Top-Flight Clash
Focus shifts for a compelling Premier League matchup as front-runners Arsenal welcome rock-bottom Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.
Team News
Mikel Arteta's side have opted for three changes from the XI that endured a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in their previous outing. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli are all included in the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino are named on the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is not involved. The centre-back returns after missing a run of games due to injury.
Wolves also make three changes to their starting XI after being heavily defeated 4-1 at home by United last time out. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan start. Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the bench, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde misses out altogether.
Confirmed Lineups
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Substitutes: 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.
Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
The Setup
Good evening! Because, let's be honest …
The standings paints a clear contrast. Arsenal sit comfortably at the pinnacle of the table, while their opponents anchor the division.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd time the Premier League leaders have faced the side propping up the division – with 30 out of 41, with seven draws – which team is behind two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolves, that’s who! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will undoubtedly be expecting another three points, the Wolves boss must know that long shots sometimes succeed, and you never know. The start is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. The action is imminent!
(The other two last-over-first victories in the Premier League era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)
