Summary

  • Arsenal go five points clear at top of Premier League with victory

  • Rice heads 97th-minute winner after Luton had led 3-2 in second half

  • FT: Wolves 1-0 Burnley - Hwang scores first-half winner for hosts

  1. Postpublished at 19:20 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    Leon Osman
    Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    We've seen how frustrated Gary O'Neil has been after games. He probably feels his team justifies being further up the league. That can galvanize a team sometimes.

  2. Team news - Havertz starts for Arsenalpublished at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Luton v Arsenal (20:15 GMT)

    Luton Town XIImage source, BBC Sport

    Luton boss Rob Edwards makes four changes to the side that started their 3-1 defeat at Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday. Captain Tom Lockyer is injured and Chiedozie Ogbene, Carlton Morris and Tahith Chong all drop to the bench.

    Alfie Doughty returns from a hip injury, while Andros Townsend, Jacob Brown and Elijah Adebayo also start.

    Luton XI: Kaminski, Osho, Bell, Mengi, Doughty, Kabore, Barkley, Ruddock Mpanzu, Adebayo, Brown

    Subs: Krul, Ogbene, Berry, Morris, Chong, Clark, Giles, Johnson, Nelson

    aRSENAL XI

    Arsenal make three changes to the side that began the 2-1 win over Wolves in the Premier League last weekend.

    Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu misses out with an injury, while Oleksandr Zinchenko and Leandro Trossard drop to the bench as Jakub Kiwior, Ben White and Kai Havertz come in.

    Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Saka, Odegaard, Rice, Martinelli, Havertz, Jesus

    Subs: Ramsdale, Nketiah, Soares, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny, Zinchenko, Walters

  3. Lump on Leminapublished at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    Shamoon Hafez
    BBC Sport at Molineux

    Screenshot this for later...

    Mario Lemina will bag tonight. He has been firing the goals in in the warm-up - top corner, low into the bottom corner, across the goalkeeper into the far corner.

    It's a good job I'm not a betting man because I'd have stuck a few quid on him scoring this evening.

  4. 'An opportunity to show what we have got'published at 19:15 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    Burnley

    Burnley boss Vincent Kompany, speaking to Amazon Prime: "If I look back past the last performance I believe we have been performing well for a while now and we want to continue. It is an away game so will be tough but it is an opportunity for us to show what we have got.

    "We will see how this game plays out but I think fundamentally we have been consistent we have been doing but just a little better than we had done in the first few games.

    "The players are ready to go and looking forward to this game. We have earned the right to be here and play here but every day we have to prove we belong and can remain at this level. That is the challenge."

  5. 'We need to be adapatable'published at 19:13 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:00 GMT)

    Wolverhampton Wanderers

    Wolves boss Gary O'Neil, speaking to Amazon Prime: "We need a good performance tonight because Burnley are a top side. They have a good head coach and it will be a tough test for us.

    "The lads will need to be adaptable. Burnley change [system] multiple times in their games so far so we need to be adaptable and we need to have the best version of us.

    "I knew they could do that [win 5-0] to teams because of the way they play. They are a good side and will be a test for everyone this season."

  6. 'I expect Arsenal to find a way to win'published at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Luton v Arsenal (20:15 GMT)

    .Image source, .

    Arsenal have been much more pragmatic so far than they were last season and have not hit the same heights with their attacking play, but it is working for them.

    We know how spirited Luton are at home but the way Mikel Arteta's side are playing at the moment, I just expect them to find a way to win.

    Historically, the Gunners used to struggle at Kenilworth Road when Luton were in the top-flight in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and they have not won there since January 1984, but that long wait for a victory should soon be over.

    Prediction: 0-2

  7. Postpublished at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Luton v Arsenal (20:15 GMT)

    Luton versus Arsenal kicks off in just over an hour and we shall be finding out who is playing in the next 10 minutes. This is what we do know:

    Luton defenders Tom Lockyer and Teden Mengi both face fitness tests after being forced off at Brentford with respective back and knee problems.

    Alfie Doughty may return from a hip injury but Albert Sambi Lokonga is ineligible against his parent club.

    Arsenal will monitor Takehiro Tomiyasu, who was withdrawn as a precaution against Wolves because of a muscle issue.

    Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber remain out.

  8. 'The mindset we have to press the reset button is incredible'published at 19:02 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Burnley are "part of the elite" when it comes to their mindset manager Vincent Kompany feels.

    The Clarets moved off the bottom on the table with an impressive 5-0 win over relegation rivals Sheffield United on Saturday and ended a run of seven home defeats in the league this season.

    They can take confidence from the result into tonight's game and the Burnley boss has praised his players' ability to reset after each game.

    "I said to the guys before the game that I felt that they were going to be celebrating on the day. I felt they were going to be celebrating their efforts and mental strength and determination in tough times, I didn't know before the game but I told them that," said Kompany.

    "The only thing I wanted to say after the game is that you can't take for granted the amount of pressure there is on such a game for us. Probably only one of two games where people will say you're a little bit favourite, other games we're not.

    "On top of that lack of winning and results, to start and finish the game like this is a lot of pressure. So I want to say the mindset we have at the club to press the reset button and to continue the hard work is incredible."

  9. Watch livepublished at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    You can also watch the Scotland versus England game on BBC One, iPlayer and online from 19:30 GMT.

  10. Listen livepublished at 18:58 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Luton versus Arsenal is the main commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live with our team of Ali Bruce-Ball and Matt Upson, who moved from Luton to Arsenal for £2m in 1997 during his playing career.

    On BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra there is full commentary of the Women's Nations League match as Scotland take on England.

    Click here to follow our live coverage of that game.

  11. At the bottompublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Depending on how tonight's results go, Luton could be five points clear of the relegation zone or back in it if Burnley win at Wolves.

    Gary O'Neil's side will go above Crystal Palace and into 12th with a victory.

    Bottom of the Premier LeagueImage source, .
  12. How it standspublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Arsenal could end the day five points clear of Liverpool, who play at Sheffield United on Wednesday in Chris Wilder's first game back in charge of the Blades.

    Top of the Premier LeagueImage source, .
  13. An important double header for Wolvespublished at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    Phil Cartwright
    BBC Sport

    Wolves may have lost both of their Premier League matches since the most recent international break, but the mood among fans remains largely positive going into a Molineux double-header this week, with games against Burnley and Nottingham Forest.

    It is a cliché often trotted out about teams in the mid-to-lower reaches of a division; that their season will be not be defined by results against the top sides, but by those against teams close to them in the table.

    Wolves' first six home fixtures this term have all been against clubs that finished in the top eight last season. There have been two wins, two draws and two defeats - not a bad return at all and plenty of reason for optimism. A couple more entries into that "W" column by Saturday evening will be very welcome.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  14. Did winning promotion cost Heckingbottom?published at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Sheffield United v Liverpool (Wednesday, 19:30 GMT)

    Media caption,

    The Football News Show: Did Paul Heckingbottom over achieve by winning promotion?

    After sacking Paul Heckingbottom, do Sheffield United have the quality to avoid Premier League relegation?

    Watch the Football News Show for reaction to his departure.

  15. O'Neil understands Burnley backing for Kompanypublished at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    Paul Heckingbottom became the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season earlier today with Sheffield United having struggled on their return to the Premier League.

    Despite Burnley also having a difficult start to the season, manager Vincent Kompany has stuck to his methods.

    "He has been fully backed by the club to sign the type of goalkeeper he needs, to sign wide players to help him play his way and to fit what he wants. They have spent a decent amount of money on an already fairly talented group," Wolves boss Gary O'Neil said.

    "They use different shapes a lot, bringing their full-backs inside, or on the top line or using a 4-2-4 against Sheffield United the other day. It’s quite difficult to predict exactly what they will look like, so we have a real focus on us and we are ready to go."

    .Image source, Getty Images
  16. Burnley turning the corner?published at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    Shamoon Hafez
    BBC Sport at Molineux

    Burnley players and supporters have made the trip down to the Midlands on the back of a resounding 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United at the weekend.

    The result was Burnley's first points in the Premier League in two months and they now come up against Wolves aiming for back-to-back victories.

    Luton host league leaders Arsenal tonight so the Clarets have a huge incentive, as three points coupled with a defeat for the Hatters will pull them out of the relegation zone.

    Manager Vincent Kompany has always delivered a message of "calm" around the club and is sticking to his plan, is that now coming together for last season's Championship title winners?

  17. 'I think Wolves will be too streetwise'published at 18:36 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    .Image source, .

    Burnley will be full of confidence after their brilliant - and much-needed - win over relegation rivals Sheffield United.

    They will be looking to bring Wolves into the battle at the bottom too, but Gary O'Neil's side still have some breathing space over the drop zone despite three defeats in their past four games.

    I also think Wolves will be too streetwise for the Clarets, especially at Molineux, which is why I am going for a home win.

    Prediction: 2-0

  18. In fine formpublished at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Hwang Hee-chan has scored five goals in his six Premier League home games for Wolves this season, with their 2-1 win against Spurs last time out the only time he has failed to score at Molineux in the league this term.

  19. Team news - No Sa for Wolvespublished at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    Shamoon Hafez
    BBC Sport at Molineux

    Wolves v Burnley

    Wolves make four changes to the side beaten by Arsenal last time out.

    Jose Sa fails to recover from a back issue so Daniel Bentley starts in goal.

    Mario Lemina, Pablo Sarabia and Joao Gomes all start with Boubacar Traore, Tommy Doyle and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde dropping to the bench.

    Wolves XI: Bentley, Semedo, Kilman, Dawson, Toti, Bueno, Lemina, Sarabia, Gomes, Cunha, Hwang.

    Wolves v Burnley

    Burnley make just one change from the 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United last time out and it is an enforced one.

    Defender Jordan Beyer is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season and is replaced by Hjalmar Ekdal.

    Burnley XI: Trafford, Vitinho, O'Shea, Ekdal, Taylor, Larsen, Berge, Brownhill, Koleosho, Rodriguez, Amdouni.

  20. Postpublished at 18:29 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2023

    Wolves v Burnley (19:30 GMT)

    But let's switch focus back to the first game of the evening because the team news for Wolves versus Burnley is about to drop.