Wolves vs Arsenal: Match preview, predicted line-ups, quotes, form, injuries and how to watch

When and where to watch Wolves vs Arsenal

Wolves vs Arsenal kicks off at 7.45pm on Saturday 12 November.

You can catch all the action from Molineux on NOW via BT TV.

Wolves vs Arsenal match preview

This is a big match for both sides at opposite ends of the table. 

Wolves, who appointed new boss Julen Lopetegui to take over the club from Boxing Day, will be desperate not to go into the World Cup break bottom of the league.

They're currently only above bottom-placed Nottingham Forest on goal difference. 

Their new Spanish manager will need to find a way of giving Wolves more bite up front.

They've only scored eight times this season and have limited options up front due to injuries, so he'll need money to spend in January. 

But Wolves can't wait that long to turn things around. Against Arsenal, caretaker manager Steve Davis will need to find a way of breaking down the joint-stingiest defence in the league, while keeping it tight at the back themselves. 

Arsenal will expect to win this match and sign off for the World Cup break as league leaders. 

Last week's win away at Chelsea was a real statement of intent and put them back on top of the pile after Manchester City won the day before. 

Mikel Arteta will be hoping his players remain focused before heading off to Qatar and return injury free to commence battle again on Boxing Day. 

Wolves vs Arsenal predicted lineups

Wolves: (4-3-3) Jose Sa; Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno, Traore, Neves, Nunes, Guedes, Hee-Chan, Podence. 

Arsenal: (4-3-3) Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli. 

Wolves vs Arsenal: Injuries and suspensions

Wolves will be without striker Diego Costa and defender Nelson Semedo as both face suspensions for their red cards against Brentford and Brighton respectively. 

There's some good news though, with record-signing midfielder Matheus Nunes expected to be passed fit after suffering from a shoulder injury against the Bees. 

Defender Tote Gomes is recovering well from injury but is unlikely to be available for the Arsenal match. 

Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu is recovering well from a muscle injury picked up against Zurich in the Europa League, but is unlikely to be risked before the World Cup. 

The Japanese international is expected to be fit enough to represent his country in Qatar. 

Arsenal are looking a lot better on the injury-front, with Mohamed Elneny, Bukayo Saka, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Matt Turner all making the squad or starting lineup against Chelsea. 

Wolves vs Arsenal: Form guide

Wolves' recent run of form has seen them pick up just one point from a possible 12 in their last four matches. 

Last weekend they looked on course for at least a point against Brighton, but Nelson Semedo's red card made things tough, and in the 83rd-minute the Seagulls found a winner. 

However, Wolves did manage to score two goals in the match for the first time this season. 

Finding the back of the net has been a problem all season, under both their former boss Bruno Lage and their interim manager Steve Davis. 

Wolves have the fewest goals in the league (8) and the lowest shot conversion rate (4.8%). Plus, they've had the fewest number of different goalscorers (4), with Ruben Neves alone socring half of his sides goals this season (4). 

With new manager Julen Lopetegui set to be in the dugout from Boxing Day, the ex-Sevilla boss will need to find a way of carving out chances before likely dipping into the transfer market for another forward in January. 

A much-needed win, or even a point, would give something to Lopetegui to work with post-Christmas. 

Arsenal just keep winning, though they did suffer a surprise defeat to Brighton in the Carabao Cup in mid-week. The only blemish on their recent Premier League record is a 1-1 draw away at Southampton. 

Manchester City keep leapfrogging the Gunners, but Arsenal keep firing back with wins to go back to the top of the summit. 

Going into the match at Molineux, they'll be confident of entering the World Cup break at the top of the table regardless of what their rivals do. 

Last week Arsenal overcame London rivals Chelsea in what looked like one of their toughest fixtures to date. But the Gunners dominated the match and were deserved winners. 

He said what?!

Mikel Arteta on his table-topping Arsenal side after beating Chelsea: 

“We are getting much better as a team and competing much better. We are getting really good results right now, but this is a long, long season."

Wolves vs Arsenal: Last time they met

Arsenal faced Wolves twice in February last year, winning on both occasions. 

The Gunners won 2-1 in their most recent match, at the Emirates, with two late goals from Nicolas Pepe and a Jose Sa own-goal. 

Hwang Hee-Chan had given the visitors the lead after 10 minutes, but Arsenal hit back with goals in the 82nd minute and fifth minute of injury time. 

The last time these two met at Molineux, Arsenal won 1-0 despite having Gabriel Martinelli sent off in the second half. 

The London side's goal came through Gabriel in the first half and Arsenal hung on for the three points. 

Wolves vs Arsenal: Players to watch

With the World Cup just days away, this is a last-chance to see some of the potential stars of Qatar 2022 in action for their clubs. 

From an England point-of-view, Three Lions fans and Gareth Southgate will be keen to see good, injury-free, performances from potential starter Bukayo Saka and likely squad players Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale. 

Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are also set to star for Brazil, while Wolves have a number of players looking to shine for Portugal, such as Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes and Goncalo Guedes.  

Wolves vs Arsenal: Key stats

• Arsenal have scored in each of their last 29 meetings with Wolves in all competitions, since a 1-0 loss in February 1979. Only against West Bromwich Albion (32) are the Gunners currently on a longer scoring streak in all competitions.

• Arsenal are the only side to have scored in every Premier League game this season, while they've also got the joint-fewest goals conceded (11) and joint-most clean sheets so far this term (6). Indeed, the Gunners are looking to win three consecutive league games without conceding for the first time since July 2020.

• Victory for Arsenal will mean they are top of the Premier League table at Christmas for the first time since 2007-08. However, the Gunners haven't gone on to win the title in any of the last five times they've topped the table at Christmas (1951-52, 1986-87, 1989-90, 2002-03 and 2007-08), last doing so in 1947-48.

• As well as having the fewest goals (8) and lowest shot conversion rate (4.8%) in the Premier League this season, Wolves have had fewer different goalscorers than any other side (4), with Rúben Neves netting 50% of their goals so far this term (4/8).

• Arsenal have had five players create at least 20 chances in the Premier League this season, no other side has had more than three (Saka 26, Ødegaard 25, Martinelli 23, Jesus 22, Xhaka 20). 

• Arsenal's Bukayo Saka – whose first ever Premier League goal came against Wolves at Molineux in July 2020 – has been involved in 10 goals in his last 10 Premier League games (4 goals, 6 assists), with no Gunners player having a hand in more league goals this season.