Arsenal Take On Wolves in Crucial Top-Flight Clash
All eyes turn for a intriguing Premier League contest as league leaders Arsenal entertain struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.
Confirmed Sides
Arsenal have introduced three changes following the side that endured a narrow defeat at Aston Villa last weekend. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all start in the starting eleven. The captain and the Spanish midfielder are named on the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. Saliba returns after sitting out a run of games due to injury.
Wolves also make three changes to their starting XI following being skelped 4-1 at home by United last time out. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and the South Korean forward are recalled. Ki-Jana Hoever and Arias are on the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is not in the squad altogether.
Starting Elevens
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.
Subs: 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, c’mon …
The table reveals a clear contrast. The hosts sit comfortably at the top of the table, while Wolves prop up the division.
… yet while this will be the 42nd time the top side have taken on the team propping up the entire table – with 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – which team is responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolves, that’s who! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will undoubtedly be expecting another three points, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs occasionally find the target, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
(The other two last-over-first wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Spurs – yeah, this one sounds a bit weird - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)
