Focus shifts for a intriguing Premier League contest as table-toppers Arsenal host bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the their home ground.
Confirmed Sides
Mikel Arteta's side have opted for a trio of alterations following the XI that suffered a narrow loss at Villa Park last weekend. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and the Brazilian winger all start in the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino are named on the bench, while the Italian defender is absent. The centre-back is back after sitting out five matches through injury.
Wolves also make three adjustments to their lineup following being skelped 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward start. Hoever and Arias are on the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde is not in the squad 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.
Bench: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks
Preamble
Good evening! And I mean, c’mon …
The table paints a striking story. The hosts sit comfortably at the top of the Premier League, while their opponents occupy the bottom of the division.
… yet while this will be the 42nd time the top side have played the side at the foot of the division – with 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, of course! So while Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be anticipating another three points, the Wolves boss must know that underdogs occasionally find the target, and you never know. The start is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. The action is imminent!
(The other two bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Spurs – yeah, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)
