Arsenal Take On Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial English Top Division Fixture
All eyes turn for a fascinating top-flight matchup as front-runners Arsenal welcome rock-bottom Wolves to the their home ground.
Team News
Arsenal have introduced three changes following the XI that suffered a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in their previous outing. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all start in the starting eleven. The captain and the Spanish midfielder are named on the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is not involved. The centre-back is back after missing a run of games due to injury.
The visitors also make three adjustments to their starting XI after being soundly beaten 4-1 at Molineux by United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward start. Hoever and 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.
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.
Subs: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
Match Context
Welcome! Because, let's be honest …
The table tells a clear contrast. The hosts sit comfortably at the top of the table, while their opponents occupy the bottom of the league.
… yet while this will be the 42nd time the Premier League leaders have taken on the side at the foot of the entire table – with 30 out of 41, with seven draws – which team is behind two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolves, that’s who! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be anticipating another victory, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs occasionally come off, and anything is possible. The start is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
(The remaining bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League 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.)
