The stage is set for a fascinating Premier League matchup as table-toppers Arsenal host struggling Wolves to the their home ground.
Arsenal have made three changes from the XI that endured a narrow loss at Aston Villa last weekend. William Saliba, the Swedish striker and Gabriel Martinelli all start in the lineup. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder drop to the substitutes' 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 changes to their lineup following being skelped 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United on Monday evening. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan start. Ki-Jana Hoever and Arias are on the substitutes, while Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde misses out altogether.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Substitutes: 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
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Welcome! And I mean, look at this …
The table tells a striking picture. The hosts sit comfortably at the summit of the Premier League, while Wolves occupy the bottom of the division.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd time the top side have faced the side propping up the entire table – winning 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – which team is behind two of the four all-time upsets? Why, Wolverhampton Wanderers, that’s who! So while Mikel Arteta will surely be expecting another three points, the Wolves boss must know that long shots sometimes succeed, and you never know. The start is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. Let's go!
(The remaining last-over-first wins in the modern top-flight era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – yeah, a surprising one - beating Liverpool in November 2008.)
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