Arsenal Host Wolves in Crucial English Top Division Encounter
The stage is set for a compelling top-flight matchup as table-toppers Arsenal host bottom-placed Wolves to the their home ground.
Starting Lineups
Mikel Arteta's side have opted for a trio of alterations from the team that suffered a narrow defeat at Aston Villa last weekend. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the lineup. The captain and Mikel Merino are named on the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. The centre-back is back after sitting out five matches due to injury.
Wolves also make three adjustments to their starting XI following being soundly beaten 4-1 at Molineux by United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan come in. Hoever and Arias are on the bench, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is not in the squad altogether.
Confirmed Lineups
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.
Substitutes: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Match Context
Welcome! Because, let's be honest …
The standings paints a stark picture. The hosts sit proudly at the summit of the Premier League, while their opponents anchor the league.
… yet while this will be the 42nd time the top side have taken on the team propping up the entire table – with 30 victories from 41, with seven draws – which team is behind two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolves, that’s who! So while the Arsenal manager will surely be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs occasionally come off, and anything is possible. The start is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. The action is imminent!
(The other two 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.)