Manchester City will endeavour to set a new English football winning record when they lock horns with Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
The Citizens' title hopes were boosted last weekend after the Gunners dropped two points – albeit in controversial circumstances – in a 1-1 draw against Brentford on Saturday.
Just over 24 hours later, Pep Guardiola's side responded to that draw and the Premier League's allegations of breaching numerous financial rules by securing a defiant 3-1 victory against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium, courtesy of strikes from Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez.
Man City now sit just three points behind Arsenal at the top of the table and a victory in North London would see the reigning champions leapfrog the Gunners to the Premier League summit on goal difference.
While the Citizens should not underestimate the magnitude of Wednesday's fixture and the challenge that awaits against Arsenal, they can head to the capital with plenty of optimism considering their impressive head-to-head record.
Indeed, City have won each of their last 10 Premier League meetings against Arsenal, while they have also won each of their last six away matches at the Emirates across all competitions.
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Should Guardiola's side secure maximum points against Arsenal on Wednesday, they will become the first team in English football history to record seven successive away wins against the Gunners.
The Citizens – who are the only team that Mikel Arteta has failed to beat in the Premier League as Arsenal boss – began their current six-game winning streak away at the Gunners in February 2018 when they claimed an impressive 3-0 win, with Bernardo Silva, David Silva and Leroy Sane all on the scoresheet.
Guardiola's men then won their next three visits by an aggregate score of 9-1 between August 2018 and December 2020, before an early Raheem Sterling header secured a slender 1-0 Premier League win in February 2021.
City's most recent visit to the Emirates took place on New Year's Day in 2022 when they came from behind to beat 10-man Arsenal 2-1 in dramatic fashion; a 57th-minute penalty converted by Mahrez and a 93rd-minute winner from Rodri turned the game on its head after Bukayo Saka had opened the scoring in the first half.
The current top-flight champions are now tasked with ending Arsenal's 13-game unbeaten home run in the league, but it remains to be seen whether top scorer Erling Braut Haaland will be available for selection after sustaining a knock last weekend.
Oliver Thomas
