The Gunners Take On Wolves in Pivotal English Top Division Encounter

The stage is set for a fascinating Premier League contest as front-runners Arsenal host bottom-placed Wolves to the their home ground.

Team News

Mikel Arteta's side have opted for a trio of alterations from the team that suffered a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa last weekend. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and the Brazilian winger all come into the starting eleven. The captain and Mikel Merino are named on the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. The centre-back is back after sitting out a run of games due to injury.

Wolves also make three changes to their starting XI after being heavily defeated 4-1 at home by Manchester United last time out. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Ki-Jana Hoever and Arias drop to the bench, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is omitted altogether.

The Teams in Full

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

The Setup

Welcome! Because, look at this …

The table paints a striking contrast. Arsenal sit proudly at the top of the Premier League, while Wolves prop up the division.

… however, even though this will be the 42nd time the Premier League leaders have taken on the side at the foot of the division – winning 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! So while Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be anticipating another three points, Rob Edwards must know that long shots sometimes find the target, and you never know. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. It’s on!

^{(The other two bottom-beats-top wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)}