Arsenal predicted line-up vs. Wolves: two major changes made as £50m star Gunner returns

Arsenal will be looking to maintain their spot at the summit of the Premier League table when they face Wolves on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners are aiming to make it three top flight wins on the bounce, and will be hoping to build on a commanding 6-0 rout of RC Lens in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. Kai Havertz struck for the second game running in that clash, and was one of six different goalscorers as Mikel Arteta's men eased their way past their Ligue 1 opposition.

Domestically, Arsenal left it late to see off Brentford last weekend, but were able to move to the top of the table for the first time this season after Manchester City dropped points against Liverpool in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off. The Gunners could open up a gap of four points over the champions before Pep Guardiola's men are next in action.

As for Wolves, they were beaten 3-2 by Fulham in controversial circumstances on Monday evening. A number of contentious decisions went against Gary O'Neil's men at Craven Cottage, sparking yet more heated debate surrounding VAR and its application. Wanderers currently find themselves 12th in the table, with 15 points from 13 matches, but have delivered bloody noses to the likes of Man City and Tottenham already this season.

But how will both sides line up at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon? We've taken a look at their respective team news and predicted line-ups below...

Arsenal Team News

Arsenal look set to be without a number of midfield options this weekend, with both Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey expected to miss out on Mikel Arteta's match day squad. Both have been plagued by injury issues this season, and it is understood that the Gunners may have to wait until the new year before they are fit and available for selection once again. Addressing their respective absences, Arteta said: "It is a possibility [that Smith Rowe will return for January]. Emile has already been on the pitch doing some jogging. He’s a quick healer. Thomas [Partey] the same. We need them to be back at their best."

Elsewhere, Fabio Vieira is nursing a groin issue, and may have to undergo surgery to correct the problem. Jurrien Timber, who suffered an ACL injury on the opening weekend of the season, is still sidelined, with lingering doubts as to whether he will feature again this season.

Those complaints aside, Arsenal boast a relatively clean bill of health. As such, the Gunners should continue with David Raya between the sticks after the Spaniard returned to the side in place of Aaron Ramsdale for Wednesday's Champions League victory, while Ben White could slot in at right-back.

Arsenal Predicted XI

David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz; Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli.

Wolves Team News

Arguably the biggest miss for Wolves will be long-term Arsenal target Pedro Neto, who suffered a hamstring injury against Newcastle United at the end of October and is still not quite ready to make his return.

Elsewhere, Joe Hodge is recovering from shoulder surgery, Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes are suspended, and Rayan Ait-Nouri is a doubt due to an ankle complaint.

Wolves Predicted XI

Jose Sa; Santiago Bueno, Max Kilman, Toti Gomes; Nelson Semedo, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Boubacar Traore, Tommy Doyle, Hugo Bueno; Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-chan.