The Gunners Host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Pivotal English Top Division Encounter
Focus shifts for a intriguing top-flight contest as table-toppers the Gunners entertain struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.
Confirmed Sides
Arsenal have made three changes following the side that endured a 2-1 loss at Villa Park last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder drop to the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. Saliba is back after missing five matches through injury.
The visitors also make three adjustments to their starting XI after being soundly beaten 4-1 at Molineux by United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Ki-Jana Hoever and Arias are on the bench, while Bellegarde misses out 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.
Match Official: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
The Setup
Good evening! And I mean, c’mon …
The table paints a stark contrast. Arsenal sit proudly at the top of the table, while their opponents prop up the division.
… yet while this will be the 42nd time the top side have played the team propping up the entire table – winning 30 out of 41, with seven draws – who are responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolves, of course! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will surely be anticipating another three points, Rob Edwards 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 victories in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, a surprising one - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)