Arsenal Take On Wolves in Key Top-Flight Fixture
All eyes turn for a compelling top-flight matchup as front-runners the Gunners entertain struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.
Starting Lineups
Arsenal have made three changes from the XI that endured a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park last weekend. 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 the Italian defender is absent. Saliba returns after sitting out a run of games through injury.
The visitors also make three changes to their starting XI following being heavily defeated 4-1 at Molineux by United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward start. Ki-Jana Hoever and Jhon Arias are on the bench, while 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
Preamble
Good evening! And I mean, let's be honest …
The standings reveals a striking contrast. Arsenal sit proudly at the pinnacle of the table, while their opponents prop up the league.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have faced the team propping up the entire table – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – who are responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolves, of course! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be anticipating another victory, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs sometimes find the target, and anything is possible. The start is at 8pm GMT. The action is imminent!
(The other two bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
