Arsenal Take On Wolverhampton Wanderers in Key Top-Flight Clash
The stage is set for a intriguing top-flight contest as table-toppers Arsenal entertain bottom-placed Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.
Team News
Mikel Arteta's side have made three changes from the team that endured a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and the Brazilian winger all start in the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder are named on the bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. The centre-back is back after sitting out a run of games through injury.
Wolves also make three adjustments to their starting XI following being heavily defeated 4-1 at Molineux by United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and the South Korean forward start. Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the bench, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is omitted altogether.
The Teams in Full
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.
Subs: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
Preamble
Welcome! And I mean, let's be honest …
The standings reveals a clear story. Arsenal sit comfortably at the summit of the table, while their opponents anchor the division.
… yet while this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have taken on the side propping up the entire table – with 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolves, of course! So while Mikel Arteta will surely be expecting another three points, the Wolves boss must know that underdogs occasionally succeed, and you never know. The start 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 - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)