The Gunners Face Wolves in Key Top-Flight Clash
Focus shifts for a compelling Premier League matchup as front-runners Arsenal welcome struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.
Team News
Mikel Arteta's side have opted for three changes following the XI that endured a narrow defeat at Aston Villa in their previous outing. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all start in the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino drop to the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. Saliba returns after missing five matches due to injury.
The visitors also have made three changes to their starting XI following being skelped 4-1 at Molineux by United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and the South Korean forward are recalled. Ki-Jana Hoever and Jhon Arias are on the bench, while Bellegarde misses out altogether.
Starting Elevens
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.
Bench: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Match Official: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Preamble
Welcome! Because, c’mon …
The table reveals a striking contrast. Arsenal sit comfortably at the summit of the table, while their opponents occupy the bottom of the division.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have faced the team at the foot of the division – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolves, of course! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be expecting another three points, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs sometimes succeed, 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 modern top-flight era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Spurs – yeah, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
