🔗 Share this article

Focus shifts for a fascinating top-flight matchup as table-toppers Arsenal welcome rock-bottom Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.

Team News

Arsenal have made a trio of alterations from the side that suffered a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park in their previous outing. The French defender, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli are all included in the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino are named on the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is not involved. Saliba returns after missing five matches due to injury.

The visitors also make three changes to their lineup after being heavily defeated 4-1 at home by Manchester United last time out. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Hoever and Arias are on the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde misses out 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.

Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks

Preamble

Good evening! Because, look at this …

The standings tells a clear story. Arsenal sit comfortably at the pinnacle of the Premier League, while Wolves anchor the league.

… however, even though this will be the 42nd time the Premier League leaders have taken on the side at the foot of the entire table – winning 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – who are behind two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will undoubtedly be anticipating another victory, the Wolves boss must know that underdogs occasionally come off, and you never know. Kick-off 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 Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)}