The Gunners Take On Wolves in Pivotal English Top Division Encounter
The stage is set for a compelling top-flight matchup as table-toppers the Gunners host bottom-placed Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.
Starting Lineups
Arsenal have made three changes from the side that suffered a 2-1 loss at Villa Park last weekend. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and the Brazilian winger all come into the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino drop to the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. Saliba is back after sitting out a run of games due to injury.
Wolves also have made three changes to their starting XI following being skelped 4-1 at home by Manchester United last time out. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Ki-Jana Hoever and Arias drop to the bench, while Bellegarde is not in the squad altogether.
The Teams in Full
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.
Match Official: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
The Setup
Good evening! Because, c’mon …
The standings tells a stark story. The hosts sit proudly at the summit of the Premier League, while Wolves occupy the bottom of the division.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have faced the side at the foot of the division – with 30 out of 41, with seven draws – who are responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! So while the Arsenal manager will surely be expecting another three points, Rob Edwards must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and anything is possible. The start is at 8pm GMT. Let's go!
(The remaining last-over-first wins in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Spurs – admittedly, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
