Arsenal will aim to avoid equalling their worst-ever losing run against Everton when the Toffees pay a visit to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in the Premier League.
The Gunners' Champions League fate was in their own hands until earlier this week, with a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United severely denting their top-four hopes.
Arsenal will begin the day two points behind Tottenham Hotspur in the table and must hope for 20th-placed Norwich City to pull off a shock victory over Antonio Conte's side tomorrow.
A draw at Carrow Road is unlikely to suffice for Arsenal given their significantly inferior goal difference to Tottenham, as they would need to beat Everton by a 16-goal margin in that scenario.
However, victories over the Toffees have been hard to come by for the North London club in recent memory, and Mikel Arteta's side could equal an unwanted club record on matchday 38.
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Should Arsenal come out on the wrong end of the scoreline on Sunday, it will mark only the second time in their history that they have suffered four consecutive league defeats against Everton.
Arteta's side went down 2-1 at Goodison Park earlier in the season, as the Spaniard witnessed Demarai Gray strike a 92nd-minute winner for his former club back in December.
A Bernd Leno own goal also handed Everton a 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium last season, and the Merseyside club also prevailed by a 2-1 scoreline in December 2020 at Goodison.
Arsenal previously lost four in a row to Everton in the league between 1922 and 1924, and the Gunners ended that streak with a 3-2 win away from home.
Furthermore, Arsenal have only posted one win from their last six against Everton in the Premier League, but their final-day record does make for positive reading.
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The Gunners head into Sunday's clash aiming to win their final game of the Premier League season for the 11th time in a row, and they have also gone unbeaten in each of their last 16.
Furthermore, not since going down 3-1 to Tottenham Hotspur in the inaugural 1992-93 Premier League campaign have Arsenal ended a top-flight season with a defeat on home soil.
Everton have already been assured of their Premier League status after a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Crystal Palace in midweek, and they are guaranteed to finish no lower than 16th.
Arsenal have been boosted by the return of Thomas Partey to training ahead of Sunday's game, but the Ghana international is unlikely to be risked following his lengthy absence with a thigh injury.
Ben Knapton
