The Gunners Take On Wolves in Key Top-Flight Encounter
The stage is set for a fascinating Premier League contest as league leaders the Gunners entertain bottom-placed Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.
Starting Lineups
Mikel Arteta's side have introduced a trio of alterations following the team that endured a narrow loss at Aston Villa in their previous outing. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli are all included in the starting eleven. The captain and Mikel Merino are named on the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori 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 soundly beaten 4-1 at home by Manchester United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan start. 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.
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.
Substitutes: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
Preamble
Welcome! Because, look at this …
The table paints a stark story. Arsenal sit comfortably at the summit of the table, while Wolves prop up the league.
… yet while this will be the 42nd time the top side have faced the team propping up the entire table – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven draws – who are behind two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolves, that’s who! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be expecting another three points, the Wolves boss must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and you never know. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. The action is imminent!
(The remaining bottom-beats-top wins in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – yeah, this one sounds a bit weird - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)
