The Gunners Face Wolves in Crucial Top-Flight Encounter
The stage is set for a fascinating top-flight contest as league leaders Arsenal entertain bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Starting Lineups
Mikel Arteta's side have made three changes from the side that suffered a narrow loss at Villa Park last weekend. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and the Brazilian winger all come into the lineup. The captain and Mikel Merino drop to the bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. The centre-back is back after missing a run of games due to injury.
Wolves also have made three adjustments to their lineup following being skelped 4-1 at Molineux by United last time out. Matt Doherty, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the substitutes, while Bellegarde is not in the squad 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
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Match Context
Good evening! And I mean, let's be honest …
The standings tells a clear contrast. The hosts sit proudly at the pinnacle of the Premier League, while Wolves prop up the league.
… yet while this will be the 42nd time the Premier League leaders have faced the team at the foot of the division – with 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolves, that’s who! So while Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be expecting another three points, the Wolves boss must know that underdogs occasionally succeed, and anything is possible. The start is at 8pm GMT. Let's go!
(The remaining last-over-first victories in the Premier League era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, a surprising one - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)
