The Gunners Host Wolverhampton Wanderers in Pivotal English Top Division Encounter

The stage is set for a fascinating top-flight matchup as table-toppers Arsenal welcome bottom-placed Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.

Starting Lineups

Mikel Arteta's side have opted for three changes from the XI that endured a 2-1 loss at Villa Park in their previous outing. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the starting eleven. The captain and the Spanish midfielder are named on the substitutes' bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. The centre-back is back after missing five matches due to injury.

The visitors also have made three adjustments to their starting XI following being heavily defeated 4-1 at Molineux by United last time out. Matt Doherty, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan start. Ki-Jana Hoever and Jhon Arias drop to the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde misses out altogether.

Starting Elevens

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

Match Official: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks

Match Context

Welcome! And I mean, look at this …

The standings paints a striking story. The hosts sit comfortably at the top of the Premier League, while their opponents prop up the league.

… yet while this will be the 42nd occasion the Premier League leaders have played the side propping up the entire table – winning 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – who are responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolves, that’s who! So while Mikel Arteta will surely be anticipating another victory, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs sometimes succeed, and you never know. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. It’s on!

(The remaining last-over-first wins in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Spurs – yeah, a surprising one - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)

Terry Jones
Terry Jones

A tech journalist with a decade of experience covering consumer electronics and digital innovation.