Arsenal Host Wolves in Key English Top Division Fixture
Focus shifts for a fascinating top-flight matchup as league leaders the Gunners welcome bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.
Confirmed Sides
Mikel Arteta's side have made a trio of alterations from the XI that endured a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and the Brazilian winger all come into the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder drop to the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. The centre-back is back after sitting out a run of games due to injury.
The visitors also have made three adjustments to their starting XI following being heavily defeated 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Hoever and Arias are on the substitutes, while Bellegarde is not in the squad altogether.
Confirmed Lineups
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
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Match Context
Welcome! Because, c’mon …
The standings tells a striking contrast. The hosts sit proudly at the top of the Premier League, while their opponents occupy the bottom of the division.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have faced the team at the foot of the entire table – with 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolves, of course! So while Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be anticipating another three points, the Wolves boss must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and you never know. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. The action is imminent!
(The other two bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – yeah, this one sounds a bit weird - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)