The Gunners Host Wolves in Crucial English Top Division Clash
Focus shifts for a intriguing top-flight contest as table-toppers Arsenal host bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Confirmed Sides
Arsenal have opted for a trio of alterations from the XI that endured a narrow defeat at Villa Park last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the starting eleven. The captain and Mikel Merino are named on the bench, while the Italian defender is absent. Saliba returns after sitting out five matches due to injury.
Wolves also make three changes to their starting XI following being skelped 4-1 at home by Manchester United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan come in. Ki-Jana Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the bench, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is not in the squad 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.
Match Official: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Match Context
Welcome! And I mean, c’mon …
The table reveals a clear story. The hosts sit proudly at the pinnacle of the table, while Wolves anchor the division.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd time the top side have played the side propping up the division – winning 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolverhampton Wanderers, of course! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will surely be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs sometimes succeed, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. Let's go!
(The other two bottom-beats-top wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Spurs – yeah, this one sounds a bit weird - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)