Arsenal Take On Wolves in Pivotal Top-Flight Clash
The stage is set for a compelling top-flight contest as front-runners the Gunners welcome bottom-placed Wolves to the their home ground.
Team News
Arsenal have introduced three changes from the XI that endured a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in their previous outing. William Saliba, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli all start in the starting eleven. The captain and the Spanish midfielder are named on the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. The centre-back is back after missing five matches through injury.
The visitors also have made three adjustments to their starting XI after being soundly beaten 4-1 at home by United last time out. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward are recalled. Ki-Jana Hoever and Arias drop to the substitutes, while Bellegarde is not in the squad 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.
Bench: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
The Setup
Welcome! And I mean, let's be honest …
The standings tells a clear picture. The hosts sit comfortably at the pinnacle of the table, while Wolves anchor the league.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have faced the team propping up the division – with 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – who are responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! So while Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be anticipating another victory, the Wolves boss must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and you never know. The start is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. It’s on!
(The remaining last-over-first wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – yeah, this one sounds a bit weird - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)