Arsenal Take On Wolves in Pivotal Top-Flight Encounter
Focus shifts for a fascinating top-flight matchup as table-toppers the Gunners entertain struggling Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.
Team News
Arsenal have introduced a trio of alterations from the side that suffered a narrow loss at Aston Villa last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and the Brazilian winger all come into the lineup. The captain and Mikel Merino are named on the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. Saliba is back after sitting out a run of games due to injury.
The visitors also make three changes to their lineup after being heavily defeated 4-1 at Molineux by United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan start. Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the bench, while 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.
Substitutes: 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 stark picture. The hosts sit proudly at the pinnacle of the table, while Wolves anchor the league.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the Premier League leaders have played the team at the foot of the entire table – winning 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four all-time upsets? Indeed, Wolves, that’s who! So while the Arsenal manager will surely be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards must know that long shots sometimes find the target, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. It’s on!
(The remaining bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, a surprising one - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)
