The Gunners Take On Wolves in Pivotal English Top Division Fixture
The stage is set for a fascinating top-flight matchup as front-runners the Gunners host bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Team News
Mikel Arteta's side have introduced three changes following the side that endured a narrow defeat at Villa Park last weekend. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and the Brazilian winger all come into the lineup. The captain and the Spanish midfielder drop to the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is not involved. Saliba returns after sitting out five matches due to injury.
Wolves also have made three adjustments to their lineup after being soundly beaten 4-1 at home by Manchester United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and the South Korean forward start. Ki-Jana Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to 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.
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.
Substitutes: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Match Official: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
The Setup
Welcome! And I mean, c’mon …
The standings paints a clear contrast. The hosts sit proudly at the summit of the Premier League, while their opponents prop up the division.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd time the Premier League leaders have taken on the team at the foot of the entire table – winning 30 out of 41, with seven draws – who are responsible for two of the four all-time upsets? Indeed, Wolves, that’s who! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will surely be anticipating another victory, Rob Edwards must know that long shots sometimes come off, and you never know. The start is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
(The remaining last-over-first victories in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – yeah, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
