The Gunners Host Wolves in Key Top-Flight Encounter
The stage is set for a compelling Premier League matchup as league leaders the Gunners host bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.
Team News
Arsenal have opted for three changes from the XI that suffered a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa in their previous outing. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and the Brazilian winger are all included in the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder are named on the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. Saliba returns after missing a run of games through injury.
The visitors also have made three changes to their lineup after being soundly beaten 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United last time out. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan start. Hoever and Jhon Arias are on the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is not in the squad altogether.
The Teams in Full
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.
Substitutes: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Match Official: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
Preamble
Good evening! Because, c’mon …
The table tells a stark contrast. Arsenal sit proudly at the summit of the table, while Wolves occupy the bottom of the league.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd time the top side have taken on the side 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? Why, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! So while Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards must know that long shots occasionally come off, and you never know. The start is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. It’s on!
(The other two last-over-first wins in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – yeah, a surprising one - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)
