The Gunners Host Wolves in Crucial Top-Flight Clash
The stage is set for a compelling Premier League contest as front-runners the Gunners welcome bottom-placed Wolves to the their home ground.
Starting Lineups
Mikel Arteta's side have introduced a trio of alterations following the side that suffered a 2-1 loss at Villa Park last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli are all included in the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder drop to the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. The centre-back returns after sitting out a run of games through injury.
The visitors also make three changes to their starting XI after being skelped 4-1 at home by United last time out. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan come in. Hoever and Arias are on the bench, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is not in the squad 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.
Substitutes: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
Preamble
Welcome! Because, c’mon …
The table reveals a stark contrast. The hosts sit comfortably at the pinnacle of the table, while their opponents occupy the bottom of the league.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd time the top side have faced the team at the foot of the division – winning 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolves, of course! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will surely be expecting another three points, the Wolves boss must know that long shots sometimes find the target, and you never know. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. The action is imminent!
(The remaining bottom-beats-top wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Spurs – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
