Arsenal Take On Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial Top-Flight Fixture
The stage is set for a compelling Premier League matchup as league leaders Arsenal entertain rock-bottom Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.
Confirmed Sides
Arsenal have opted for three changes from the side that suffered a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli all start in the starting eleven. The captain and Mikel Merino drop to the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is absent. The centre-back returns after missing five matches through injury.
The visitors also have made three changes to their lineup following being soundly beaten 4-1 at home by United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward are recalled. Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the bench, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde misses out altogether.
Starting Elevens
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
VAR Official: John Brooks
Match Context
Welcome! And I mean, look at this …
The standings reveals a stark story. Arsenal sit proudly at the top of the table, while their opponents anchor the league.
… yet while this will be the 42nd occasion the Premier League leaders have played the side propping up the entire table – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven draws – which team is behind two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolves, of course! So while the Arsenal manager will surely be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and anything is possible. The start is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. The action is imminent!
(The remaining bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
