Arsenal vs Manchester City

Mikel Arteta is the first manager to avoid defeat in five consecutive league games against Pep Guardiola, with his Arsenal side winning twice and drawing the other three across their last five Premier League meetings with Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Manchester City have won just seven points from their opening five Premier League matches (W2 D1 L2), their worst return after five league games of a campaign since 2006-07 under Stuart Pearce (4).

Manchester City recorded their lowest ever possession average by a Pep Guardiola team in a top-flight league match (today his 601st), while the two lowest have both been in games away to Arsenal in the Premier League (32.8% today, 36.5% in March 2023).

Arsenal have won two of their last four league meetings with Manchester City (D2), as many as their previous 22 beforehand (D5 L15). The Gunners could win back-to-back league games against the Citizens for the first time since December 2015.

Manchester City have lost both of their last two Premier League visits to Arsenal, as many as their previous 14 beforehand (W7 D5 L2). It’s their longest losing run away to the Gunners since April 2009 (4 in a row).

Arsenal have won their last three Premier League home games by an aggregate score of 9-0. They last won four in a row without conceding in December 2021, while they last won their first three at home in a season without conceding in 1960-61.

Manchester City have lost five of their last seven Premier League games immediately following a European game in midweek (W2), including a 5-1 loss at Arsenal in February. Their previous five such defeats came over a period of 46 games in five years (W27 D14).

Only Bournemouth (9) have had more direct attacks than Arsenal in the Premier League this season (8, an average of 2 per game). Last season, the Gunners ranked 11th for direct attacks (1.7 per game).