Arsenal will be out to equal their best-ever winning run against Leeds United for 84 years when the Whites pay a visit to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Despite a minor blip just after the international break, Arsenal are now back in the driving seat for a top-four finish after three consecutive wins against their European rivals.
Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham United have all failed to take any points off the Gunners in the past few weeks, and Mikel Arteta's side have also not given up their hopes of third place just yet either.
Thomas Tuchel's side are four points clear in third having played a game more - suffering a late collapse to draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday - while Tottenham Hotspur are still two points behind in fifth before they meet Liverpool.
Victory for the Gunners is therefore imperative before the midweek North London derby with Tottenham, and recent history is in their favour ahead of Sunday's game with the Whites.
© Reuters
Arsenal eased to a 4-1 success at Elland Road during Marcelo Bielsa's tenure back in December, which represented their third consecutive win against Leeds in all tournaments.
Arteta had previously overseen a 2-0 win in the fourth round of the EFL Cup back in October, and a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang-inspired side won 4-2 at the Emirates in the Premier League last season.
Should Arsenal pick up all three points on Sunday, it will mark the first time in 84 years that they have strung together a four-game winning streak against Leeds in all tournaments.
The Gunners' most recent four-game streak against Leeds came between November 1936 and April 1938, and not since 2003 have the Gunners lost to the Whites in any competition.
That defeat did come at Highbury on the penultimate day of the 2002-03 season, but Leeds have failed to keep a clean sheet on Arsenal's turf since a 1-0 FA Cup win in 1997.
Furthermore, only Liverpool and Manchester City have performed better at home in the Premier League this term, with the Gunners taking 35 points from 17 games at the Emirates so far.
© Reuters
Arsenal prepare to welcome Jesse Marsch's men to North London after announcing that Arteta had extended his stay at the club until the end of the 2024-25 season.
The 40-year-old's previous terms were due to expire in 2023, and he had been linked with the manager's jobs at Paris Saint-Germain and former club Manchester City, who had supposedly identified him as an ideal successor to Pep Guardiola.
However, Arteta has committed his future to Arsenal for the next three years, while women's manager Jonas Eidevall has also signed a new deal until the summer of 2024.
In contrast, Leeds arrive in the capital hoping to avoid being dragged into the relegation zone, which would occur if they fail to win and Everton get the better of Leicester City.
Ben Knapton
