The Gunners Take On Wolverhampton Wanderers in Crucial Premier League Encounter

The stage is set for a compelling Premier League contest as table-toppers the Gunners entertain rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.

Confirmed Sides

Mikel Arteta's side have opted for three changes following the XI that endured a narrow loss at Villa Park last weekend. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the lineup. The captain and Mikel Merino drop to the bench, while the Italian defender is absent. The centre-back is back after missing five matches due to injury.

Wolves also have made three adjustments to their starting XI after being skelped 4-1 at Molineux by Manchester United last time out. The experienced full-back, João Gomes and the South Korean forward are recalled. 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.
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.
Substitutes: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.

Referee: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks

Match Context

Welcome! Because, c’mon …

The table tells a clear picture. The hosts sit comfortably at the pinnacle of the Premier League, while Wolves occupy the bottom of the league.

… yet while this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have played the side propping up the division – winning 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – who are responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Why, Wolves, of course! So while the Arsenal manager will surely be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards 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 other two bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over United in March 1993, and Spurs – admittedly, a surprising one - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)

Nicole Mccullough
Nicole Mccullough

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in slot machine technology and casino operations, passionate about innovation in the industry.