The Gunners Face Wolves in Key Top-Flight Clash
All eyes turn for a fascinating Premier League contest as table-toppers the Gunners host bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Team News
Mikel Arteta's side have made a trio of alterations following the side that suffered a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park last weekend. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the lineup. The captain and Mikel Merino are named on the bench, while the Italian defender is absent. The centre-back is back after missing a run of games due to injury.
The visitors also make three adjustments to their starting XI after being heavily defeated 4-1 at home by Manchester United last time out. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Hoever and Arias are on the bench, while Bellegarde is not in the squad altogether.
The Teams in Full
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Subs: 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
Preamble
Good evening! And I mean, let's be honest …
The standings paints a stark contrast. The hosts sit proudly at the summit of the Premier League, while Wolves occupy the bottom of the division.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the Premier League leaders have taken on the side at the foot of the division – winning 30 out of 41, with seven draws – who are behind two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be expecting another victory, the Wolves boss must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and anything is possible. The start is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. It’s on!
(The other two bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
