Arsenal Take On Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial Top-Flight Encounter
Focus shifts for a compelling top-flight contest as league leaders Arsenal entertain bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Team News
Arsenal have made a trio of alterations following the XI that endured a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in their previous outing. The French defender, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli all start in the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino are named on the bench, while the Italian defender is absent. Saliba is back after sitting out a run of games through injury.
The visitors also make three adjustments to their lineup following being skelped 4-1 at home by Manchester United last time out. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and the South Korean forward come in. Hoever and Arias drop to the substitutes, while Bellegarde misses out altogether.
Starting Elevens
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Subs: 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.
Match Official: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
Match Context
Good evening! Because, look at this …
The standings reveals a stark picture. The hosts sit comfortably at the pinnacle of the Premier League, while Wolves occupy the bottom of the division.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the Premier League leaders have played the team propping up the entire table – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven draws – which team is responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolves, of course! So while the Arsenal manager will surely be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards must know that long shots sometimes come off, and anything is possible. The start is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
(The remaining bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Spurs – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)