Manchester City have looked uncharacteristically vulnerable this season and Arsenal will be looking to exploit their weaknesses when the two meet in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side have lost seven games this season, which is one more than in their previous two title winning seasons combined.
This includes a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Manchester United on Sunday as their city rivals did the Premier League double over them for the first time in a decade.
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Mikel Arteta spent three-and-a-half years as Man City’s assistant manager and is unbeaten in his away games as Arsenal boss
The Gunners have a good chance of causing an upset at the Etihad and the statistics suggest things could go in their favour.
The average league position of the teams who have beaten Man City this season is ninth, which is Arsenal’s place in the table coming into this fixture.
Mikel Arteta is also unbeaten in all seven on his away games in all competitions for the Gunners, with three wins and four draws, which is the longest ever unbeaten away start to a managerial reign in Arsenal’s history.
In December, Arteta left City to take the manager’s job at the north London club after three-and-a-half years working under Guardiola.
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Arsenal may be the underdogs going to the Etihad, but they’ve lost fewer times than Man City this season
Ahead of his return to the Etihad, the Gunners boss said: “It gives me a very clear idea of what they are trying to do and what they will be looking to do.
“It is something different to be able to stop that and as well create the issues that I think we can create for them.
“That has to happen on the day. When they are at their best, we know what they are capable of doing, the variation they have. At the end of the day, it’s about the players on the pitch and their performance.
“It’s going to be a very special night, I am very excited to get back there. I have some fantastic memories, a lot of friends, a lot of people that I like.
“But obviously now I am in a different position, another bench and I will defend my club as well as I can.”
The seven losses this season
Man City have lost seven times this season, while Arsenal have lost six. Here’s who Guardiola and co. have been beaten by
Lost: 2-0 to Man United
Lost: 2-0 to Tottenham
Lost: 3-2 to Wolves
Lost: 2-1 to Man United
Lost: 3-1 to Liverpool
Lost: 2-0 to Wolves
Lost: 3-2 to Norwich
Arsenal are still aiming for a finish in the top four but have their work cut out as they remain eight points behind Chelsea.
A win against City will help their cause and move them above rivals Tottenham.
The league title is out of the question for Guardiola’s side as Liverpool need just two wins from their last nine games, which will go down to one if City lose to Arsenal.
The Spaniard has a good record against the Gunners and has never lost a home match against them in his managerial career in all competitions.
Match facts
- Man City have won their last six matches against Arsenal in all competitions, their best winning run against the Gunners.
- Arsenal have lost their last five league matches against City, they last had a longer losing run against an opponent between 1974 and 1977 against Ipswich (seven in a row).
- 12 of the last 16 Premier League goals Man City have scored against the Gunners have come in the first half.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last seven away league games, with each of their last five in a row ending level. The Gunners have never drawn six consecutive away league games in their history.
- Sergio Aguero has scored 10 goals in his last 12 appearances against Arsenal in all competitions.
- Kevin De Bruyne has been directly involved in six goals in his last seven Premier League starts against Arsenal (four goals, two assists), netting a brace in a 3-0 win at the Emirates earlier this season.
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