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The stage is set for a fascinating top-flight contest as league leaders the Gunners entertain rock-bottom Wolves to the Emirates Stadium.

Confirmed Sides

Arsenal have introduced three changes from the side that endured a narrow defeat at Aston Villa in their previous outing. William Saliba, Viktor Gyökeres and the Brazilian winger all come into the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino drop to the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is absent. The centre-back returns after sitting out a run of games through injury.

The visitors also make three adjustments to their starting XI following being heavily defeated 4-1 at home by Manchester United last time out. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and the South Korean forward are recalled. Hoever and Arias are on the substitutes, while Bellegarde is not in the squad 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.
Subs: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.

Referee: Robert Jones
VAR Official: John Brooks

The Setup

Good evening! Because, c’mon …

The standings tells a clear contrast. Arsenal sit proudly at the top of the table, while their opponents occupy the bottom of the division.

… yet while this will be the 42nd time the top side have played the side propping up the entire table – winning 30 victories from 41, with seven tied games – which team is responsible for two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolves, that’s who! So while the Arsenal manager will surely be expecting another victory, Rob Edwards must know that underdogs occasionally succeed, and you never know. Kick-off is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. The action is imminent!

^{(The other two last-over-first victories in the Premier League era are Oldham’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Spurs – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)}