Head-to-head analysis: History suggests Man City is set to derail Arsenal’s title bid
Mikel Arteta has seen his table-topping team wobble in the last two weeks after throwing away two-goal leads against Liverpool and West Ham, but earn a potentially crucial point against bottom-side Southampton - having been 3-1 down - at the Emirates on Friday.
History tells us Manchester City are on course to inflict further damage to Arsenal’s title hopes, and although the Gunners have a five-point lead at the top of the table going into the game, a draw or defeat could prove costly with the north Londoners having already played two games more than their Treble-chasing rivals.
But who do Manchester City still have to play in the Premier League? And how bad is Arsenal’s record against City? With everything to play for, let's take a look at their head-to-head record as the league's top two clubs continue their battle for the title.
Head-to-head record
Manchester City have already beaten Arsenal home and away this season: a 1-0 win in the fourth round of the FA Cup followed by a 3-1 league win at the Emirates in February.
Arsenal last beat City on their way to winning the FA Cup in 2020, but it has been eight years since they last beat City in the league with Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud scoring in a 2-1 win in 2015.
In total, they have faced each other 207 times, in a fixture going back to the first meeting between Woolwich Arsenal and Ardwick in 1893.
Arsenal have the historical upper hand, winning 98 and drawing 45, but ominously for the Gunners, City have won 14 of their last 15 meetings including their last seven in a row.
City at home vs Arsenal away
City have the best home record in the league this season winning 13, drawing once and losing one of their 15 games. They have scored 50 and conceded 15, with the solitary defeat coming against Brentford in their last match before the World Cup.
They will be facing the team with the league's best away record, however, as Arsenal have won 11, drawn three and lost two of their 16 matches on the road to date.
The Gunners lost the last time they were in Manchester (to City rivals United) and were narrowly beaten at relegation-threatened Everton. They also dropped points away to Southampton and in their last two away matches at Liverpool and West Ham.
Both teams go into the match with unbeaten records to defend. Despite their recent stuttering form, Arsenal are 10 games unbeaten in the league with Man City without defeat in nine - remarkably, as part of a 16-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
Pep Guardiola vs Mikel Arteta
Arteta has faced Guardiola nine times after leaving as his assistant in 2019 but will need something special to stop his former boss from getting the upper hand once again on Wednesday.
Guardiola has won eight of their nine meetings with Arteta yet to win a single point against him in the league.
Premier League matches to come
After their top-of-the-table clash, Manchester City have seven league matches remaining: Fulham (A), West Ham (H), Leeds (H), Everton (A), Chelsea (H), Brighton (A) and Brentford (A).
Arsenal have five: Chelsea (H), Newcastle (A), Brighton (H), Nottingham Forest (A) and Wolves (H).