The Gunners Host Wolves in Crucial Top-Flight Encounter
All eyes turn for a intriguing top-flight contest as league leaders Arsenal host rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Starting Lineups
Arsenal have made a trio of alterations following the side that endured a narrow defeat at Villa Park in their previous outing. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all start in the starting eleven. The captain and Mikel Merino are named on the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. Saliba returns after missing five matches due to injury.
Wolves also have made three changes to their lineup following being soundly beaten 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and the South Korean forward start. Ki-Jana Hoever and Jhon Arias are on the substitutes, while Bellegarde is omitted altogether.
The Teams in Full
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Substitutes: 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
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Preamble
Good evening! And I mean, let's be honest …
The table reveals a striking story. Arsenal 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 played the team at the foot of the entire table – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven draws – which team is responsible for two of the four all-time upsets? Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will undoubtedly be anticipating another three points, the Wolves boss must know that underdogs occasionally find the target, and you never know. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. The action is imminent!
(The other two bottom-beats-top wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)