The Gunners Host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial English Top Division Clash
All eyes turn for a compelling Premier League contest as league leaders Arsenal entertain bottom-placed Wolves to the their home ground.
Team News
Mikel Arteta's side have introduced a trio of alterations following the team that endured a narrow defeat at Aston Villa in their previous outing. William Saliba, the Swedish striker and the Brazilian winger all start in the lineup. The captain and the Spanish midfielder drop to the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is not involved. Saliba is back after sitting out five matches through injury.
Wolves also have made three adjustments to their lineup following being soundly beaten 4-1 at Molineux by United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and the South Korean forward are recalled. Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the bench, 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.
Bench: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Preamble
Good evening! And I mean, look at this …
The standings reveals a clear contrast. Arsenal sit comfortably at the summit of the Premier League, while Wolves anchor the league.
… yet while this will be the 42nd occasion the Premier League leaders have faced the team propping up the division – with 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – which team is responsible for two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolverhampton Wanderers, of course! So while Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be anticipating another victory, Rob Edwards must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and you never know. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
(The remaining last-over-first victories in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Spurs – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)