The Gunners Face Wolves in Crucial Top-Flight Encounter
Focus shifts for a fascinating Premier League matchup as front-runners Arsenal entertain struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Team News
Arsenal have introduced a trio of alterations following the team that endured a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and the Brazilian winger all start in the lineup. The captain and the Spanish midfielder drop to the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is not involved. Saliba is back after missing five matches through injury.
Wolves also have made three adjustments to their starting XI following being heavily defeated 4-1 at Molineux by United last time out. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan start. Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is omitted altogether.
Starting Elevens
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.
Substitutes: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Preamble
Welcome! And I mean, let's be honest …
The table paints a clear picture. The hosts sit comfortably at the summit of the table, while Wolves prop up the division.
… yet while this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have taken on the team propping up the entire table – with 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolves, that’s who! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will surely be anticipating another victory, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs occasionally succeed, and you never know. The start is at 8pm GMT. Let's go!
(The remaining bottom-beats-top victories in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – yeah, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
