🔗 Share this article

Focus shifts for a fascinating top-flight matchup as league leaders the Gunners entertain bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.

Team News

Mikel Arteta's side have made a trio of alterations from the XI that endured a narrow defeat at Villa Park last weekend. William Saliba, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the lineup. The captain and the Spanish midfielder are named on the bench, while the Italian defender is not involved. The centre-back is back after sitting out five matches through injury.

The visitors also make three adjustments to their lineup following being heavily defeated 4-1 at Molineux by United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde misses out altogether.

Confirmed Lineups

Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Bench: 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.
Subs: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.

Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks

Preamble

Good evening! Because, let's be honest …

The standings tells a striking story. Arsenal sit comfortably at the summit of the Premier League, while Wolves anchor the division.

… yet while this will be the 42nd occasion the Premier League leaders have faced the team at the foot of the division – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – which team is responsible for two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolves, that’s who! Therefore, although the Arsenal manager will surely be expecting another three points, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs sometimes come off, and you never know. The start is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. Let's go!

^{(The remaining bottom-beats-top wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)}