Arsenal Host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial Premier League Clash
Focus shifts for a fascinating Premier League matchup as league leaders the Gunners welcome struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.
Team News
Arsenal have opted for a trio of alterations following the XI that suffered a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park in their previous outing. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli are all included in the starting eleven. The captain and the Spanish midfielder are named on the bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. The centre-back returns after missing a run of games due to injury.
Wolves also make three changes to their starting XI following being soundly beaten 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United last time out. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Hoever and Arias drop to the substitutes, while Bellegarde misses out 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.
Bench: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Preamble
Good evening! Because, c’mon …
The table reveals a clear picture. The hosts sit comfortably at the summit of the table, while Wolves anchor the league.
… yet while this will be the 42nd occasion the Premier League leaders have faced the team at the foot of the entire table – with 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – who are behind two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolverhampton Wanderers, of course! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will undoubtedly be anticipating another victory, the Wolves boss must know that underdogs sometimes find the target, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. It’s on!
(The remaining bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Spurs – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)