Arsenal Host Wolves in Crucial English Top Division Encounter

Focus shifts for a compelling top-flight matchup as table-toppers Arsenal host bottom-placed Wolves to the their home ground.

Team News

Mikel Arteta's side have opted for three changes following the side that suffered a 2-1 loss at Villa Park last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli all start in the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino are named on the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is absent. Saliba returns after missing a run of games through injury.

The visitors also have made three adjustments to their lineup after being skelped 4-1 at home by Manchester United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward come in. Ki-Jana Hoever and Arias drop to the bench, 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

The Setup

Good evening! And I mean, c’mon …

The table reveals a striking picture. Arsenal sit proudly at the summit of the Premier League, while Wolves prop up the league.

… yet while this will be the 42nd time the Premier League leaders have played the side at the foot of the division – with 30 out of 41, with seven draws – who are behind two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! So while the Arsenal manager will surely be anticipating another victory, Rob Edwards must know that long shots occasionally find the target, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. Let's go!

(The remaining last-over-first wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Spurs – admittedly, a surprising one - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)

Marissa Massey
Marissa Massey

A tech journalist and futurist with a passion for exploring how emerging technologies shape society and daily life.