Match Preview
The 2025/26 Premier League season reaches another key chapter at the Emirates Stadium as league leaders Arsenal host bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 13 December 2025. On paper it is a top-versus-bottom clash, but the stakes are huge for both sides: Arsenal want to keep their title charge on track, while Wolves are fighting to avoid a historically bad campaign.
Arsenal sit at the summit of the table with 33 points from 15 games, built on a record of 10 wins, 3 draws and just 2 defeats. They have scored 28 goals and conceded only 9, giving them a league-best goal difference of +19. Mikel Arteta’s men were briefly checked by a 2–1 defeat away to Aston Villa on Matchweek 15, but overall they remain the most consistent side in the division and are widely tipped to sustain a serious title challenge.
Wolves, by contrast, are in crisis. They arrive in North London bottom of the Premier League with just 2 points from 15 matches and a goal difference of around −25, having lost 13 of those games. A recent 4–1 home defeat to Manchester United extended their losing streak to a club-record eight consecutive league games and deepened supporter unrest. Rob Edwards, appointed in November, has lost all of his first four matches in charge and has publicly criticised his side’s defending, describing it as “like a kids’ game” in the aftermath of that defeat.
Given this backdrop, many observers see Arsenal’s home fixture against Wolves as one of the most one-sided matchups of the season on current form. The Gunners will look to rediscover their fluidity after the setback at Villa Park, while Wolves must somehow find belief and defensive solidity to avoid another damaging result on the road.
TV Broadcast and Livestreams
Arsenal vs Wolves is part of the main Premier League Saturday night schedule. In the UK, it is fixed in the 20:00 kick-off slot, with live television coverage subject to broadcaster selections. Around the world, fans can watch via regional Premier League rights holders on sports channels or licensed streaming platforms.
Supporters should check local TV listings and official Premier League or club channels to confirm whether the match is selected for live broadcast in their territory and on which platform it will be shown.
Match Information
| Date | Saturday 13 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Kick-off Time | 20:00 UK time / 20:00 UTC |
| Venue | Emirates Stadium, London, England |
| Home Team | Arsenal FC |
| Away Team | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC |
| Competition | Premier League 2025/26 – Matchweek 16 |
Premier League Table Snapshot (Before Kick-off)
Heading into Matchweek 16, the overall picture at opposite ends of the table underlines how contrasting these seasons have been so far for Arsenal and Wolves:
| Position | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 9 | +19 | 33 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 15 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 40 | −25 | 2 |
Arsenal boast the joint-best goal difference in the division and one of the stingiest defences, while Wolves have the lowest points tally, the poorest goal difference and have conceded more goals than any other side. This stark contrast fuels the expectation that Arsenal will dominate the contest, at least on paper.
Form Guide
Arsenal – Recent Form (All Competitions)
- Premier League record: 10W – 3D – 2L after 15 games.
- Only 9 goals conceded in the league, one of the best defensive records.
- Recently suffered a narrow 2–1 defeat away to Aston Villa but remain top of the table.
- Strong overall form with long unbeaten and winning streaks earlier in the season.
Arteta’s side blend control and resilience: they dominate territory and possession in most matches, while a well-drilled back line and in-form goalkeeper have kept opposition chances to a minimum.
Wolves – Recent Form (All Competitions)
- Premier League record: 0W – 2D – 13L after 15 games.
- Club-record run of eight consecutive league defeats going into this fixture.
- Most recent result: 4–1 home defeat to Manchester United at Molineux.
- Only 2 points from a possible 45 joint-worst tally at this stage in top-flight history.
Wolves’ problems are both structural and psychological. They concede too many chances, struggle to retain the ball under pressure and have found goals hard to come by at the other end, with fan protests adding to the sense of crisis around the club.
Head-to-Head Record
Arsenal and Wolves have met regularly in the Premier League over the past few seasons, and the recent record is overwhelmingly in the Gunners’ favour.
Last 5 Premier League Meetings
| Date | Venue | Fixture | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 2025 | Molineux | Wolves vs Arsenal | 0–1 (Arsenal) |
| 17 Aug 2024 | Emirates Stadium | Arsenal vs Wolves | 2–0 (Arsenal) |
| 20 Apr 2024 | Molineux | Wolves vs Arsenal | 0–2 (Arsenal) |
| 2 Dec 2023 | Emirates Stadium | Arsenal vs Wolves | 2–1 (Arsenal) |
| 28 May 2023 | Emirates Stadium | Arsenal vs Wolves | 5–0 (Arsenal) |
Across these five meetings, Arsenal have recorded 5 wins from 5, scoring 12 goals and conceding just 1. In the wider head-to-head picture over the last decade, Wolves have occasionally upset Arsenal, but recent history at the Emirates suggests this fixture has become one of Arsenal’s more favourable match-ups.
Tactical Outlook
Arsenal: control, structure and relentless pressure
Arsenal under Mikel Arteta will look to impose their usual high-control game at home:
- Positional play in a 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 hybrid, with full-backs stepping into midfield and wingers holding width to stretch Wolves’ defensive block.
- Intense counter-pressing immediately after possession is lost, aiming to pin Wolves in their defensive third and prevent counter-attacks before they start.
- Rotations between attacking midfielders and forwards, with players like Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyökeres interchanging roles to create overloads in half-spaces.
- Set-piece threat, both direct and indirect, using rehearsed routines to exploit any marking weaknesses in the Wolves defence.
Given Wolves’ difficulties in playing out from the back and coping with pressure, Arsenal will likely press high, trust their central defenders in one-v-one situations and look to overwhelm the visitors with sustained waves of attacks.
Wolves: damage limitation and counter-punching
Wolves will probably prioritise survival first, hoping to stay in the game for as long as possible and look for rare moments to counter:
- Deep, compact defensive block, often with five at the back, aiming to close the central channels and force Arsenal to cross from wider areas.
- Direct balls into channels for quick forwards to chase, targeting space behind Arsenal’s advanced full-backs whenever possession is turned over.
- Set-pieces as a main weapon, trying to use height and physicality at corners and free-kicks to snatch a goal against the run of play.
- Mental resilience, which has been a problem in recent heavy defeats; Wolves must avoid the early collapses that have marked several of their recent games.
If Wolves are to get any kind of result, they will need near-perfect concentration, strong goalkeeping and clinical finishing in the very few chances they are likely to create.
Key Players to Watch
- Arsenal – Bukayo Saka: A creative and goalscoring outlet cutting in from the right flank, Saka’s ability to attack full-backs one-on-one and deliver decisive passes makes him central to Arsenal’s attacking plan.
- Arsenal – Viktor Gyökeres / Leandro Trossard: The focal point of the front line and a versatile forward respectively, both offer movement, pressing intensity and penalty-area presence against a leaky Wolves defence.
- Wolves – Jean-Ricner Bellegarde: One of the few bright sparks in recent weeks, his goal against Manchester United ended a long scoring drought and he will be tasked with carrying attacking threat on the break.
- Wolves – Goalkeeper: Whoever starts in goal will likely face a high volume of shots and must produce an outstanding performance to keep Wolves competitive.
Match Outlook and Prediction
Predicted Final Score: Arsenal 4–0 Wolves
Taking into account current league positions, form lines and the recent head-to-head record, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that this is a match Arsenal are heavily favoured to win. They are top of the table, concede very few goals and have repeatedly dominated Wolves in recent seasons, especially at the Emirates.
Wolves arrive at the Emirates in the midst of a historically poor run, with only two points from 15 games and a series of heavy defeats behind them. While football can always spring surprises, the most likely pattern is sustained Arsenal pressure, long spells of defending for Wolves and a scoreline that reflects the gulf in confidence and quality.
The prediction here is a comfortable Arsenal 4–0 Wolves home victory, with Arsenal expected to create numerous chances and continue their push at the top of the Premier League table.
Important: This scoreline is purely a football opinion for discussion and entertainment. It is not advice or encouragement to place bets. Any form of gambling is strictly for adults, must follow local laws and should always be approached carefully and responsibly.
