Arsenal face equalling unwanted records in Manchester City clash

Arsenal will be looking to avoid a number of unwanted records when they take on reigning champions Manchester City in the Premier League this lunchtime.

The Gunners have endured a dismal start to their league season, losing their opening two games at the hands of Brentford and Chelsea without scoring a goal.

Those results have left Mikel Arteta's side 19th in the embryonic Premier League table, and they could end the day bottom of the pile should they fall to another defeat on Saturday.

Arsenal have only ever lost each of their first three league games on four previous occasions, most recently in 1954-55, while they have never lost their opening three games and failed to score in any of them.

Indeed, they have only failed to score in their opening three league games in two of their previous 117 seasons - 1904-05 and 1953-54 - although they did at least manage to pick up a point in both of those campaigns.

Optimism of their drought ending this afternoon will not be high given that Arsenal have the joint-lowest expected goals per shot figure in the league, while their record against Man City also does not bode well.

The Gunners are winless in their last 11 league games against the Citizens and have taken just two points from a possible 30 against them during Pep Guardiola's time in charge.

Arsenal could also create a slice of unwanted history this afternoon having lost each of their last eight league meetings against Man City - they have never lost nine league games in a row against a specific opponent.

To add to their woes, the North Londoners have also lost each of their last six meetings with reigning Premier League champions, and have won just one of their last 17 league visits to the holders - although that was at Man City in January 2015.

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