Arsenal Face Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial Top-Flight Encounter
The stage is set for a compelling top-flight matchup as front-runners Arsenal entertain struggling Wolves to the their home ground.
Starting Lineups
Arsenal have opted for a trio of alterations from the team that suffered a narrow loss at Villa Park last weekend. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli are all included in the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder drop to the bench, while the Italian defender is absent. Saliba is back after missing a run of games due to injury.
Wolves also make three changes to their starting XI after being soundly beaten 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan come in. Ki-Jana Hoever and 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.
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.
Bench: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
The Setup
Welcome! And I mean, let's be honest …
The standings tells a clear story. Arsenal sit proudly at the top of the table, while their opponents anchor the league.
… yet while this will be the 42nd time the top side have taken on the side at the foot of the entire table – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven draws – which team is behind two of the four all-time upsets? Indeed, Wolves, of course! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will surely be anticipating another victory, Rob Edwards must know that long shots sometimes find the target, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
(The other two last-over-first wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
