🔗 Share this article

Focus shifts for a intriguing Premier League contest as front-runners Arsenal entertain bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.

Confirmed Sides

Arsenal have opted for a trio of alterations following the team that endured a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli are all included in the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder are named on the substitutes' bench, while the Italian defender is absent. The centre-back returns after sitting out five matches through injury.

Wolves also make three adjustments to their starting XI following being heavily defeated 4-1 at home by United last time out. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and the South Korean forward are recalled. Ki-Jana Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is not in the squad altogether.

Confirmed Lineups

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.
Bench: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.

Match Official: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks

The Setup

Good evening! And I mean, let's be honest …

The table reveals a striking contrast. The hosts sit comfortably at the pinnacle of the table, while Wolves occupy the bottom of the league.

… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have played the side propping up the entire table – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – who are responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will surely be expecting another victory, the Wolves boss must know that underdogs sometimes come off, and anything is possible. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. It’s on!

^{(The other two last-over-first wins 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.)}