🔗 Share this article

All eyes turn for a fascinating top-flight matchup as table-toppers Arsenal host bottom-placed Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.

Confirmed Sides

Arsenal have introduced a trio of alterations from the side that endured a narrow loss at Villa Park last weekend. The French defender, the Swedish striker and the Brazilian winger all come into the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino drop to the bench, while the Italian defender is absent. Saliba returns after missing five matches through injury.

The visitors also make three changes to their lineup after being skelped 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United on Monday evening. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and the South Korean forward come in. Ki-Jana Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the substitutes, while Bellegarde is omitted altogether.

Starting Elevens

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

Welcome! Because, c’mon …

The table reveals a striking picture. Arsenal sit proudly at the pinnacle of the table, while Wolves occupy the bottom of the division.

… however, even though this will be the 42nd time the top side have taken on the side at the foot of the entire table – with 30 out of 41, with seven draws – who are responsible for two of the four all-time upsets? Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! So while Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. The action is imminent!

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