The Gunners Host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial Top-Flight Clash
All eyes turn for a intriguing Premier League contest as front-runners the Gunners host bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.
Starting Lineups
Arsenal have made a trio of alterations following the team that endured a narrow defeat at Villa Park last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino are named on the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. Saliba returns after sitting out a run of games due to injury.
The visitors also have made three adjustments to their lineup following being heavily defeated 4-1 at home by Manchester United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward start. Hoever and Jhon Arias are on the bench, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is omitted 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.
Subs: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Match Official: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Match Context
Good evening! Because, look at this …
The standings reveals a striking picture. Arsenal sit comfortably at the top of the Premier League, while their opponents occupy the bottom of the league.
… yet while this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have taken on the team at the foot of the division – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven draws – who are responsible for two of the four all-time upsets? Indeed, Wolves, that’s who! So while the Arsenal manager will undoubtedly be anticipating another three points, Rob Edwards must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and anything is possible. The start is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
(The remaining last-over-first victories in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Spurs – yeah, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)