Arsenal will have the chance to equal a defensive record held by Manchester United when they travel to St Mary’s for Sunday’s Premier League clash against basement side Southampton.
The Gunners are on course to finish as runners-up for the third consecutive season after they tightened their grip on second spot with a narrow win over Newcastle United last weekend.
The result also secured Arsenal Champions League football for next season, ensuring there is little pressure on their final Premier League game of the season.
However, they will travel to the South Coast with hopes of equalling a defensive record that is currently held by Man United.
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Arsenal looking to emulate Man United
Having conceded no more than two goals in any of their 57 competitive matches this term, the Gunners have the opportunity to become just the second team in the Premier League era to go a whole season without letting in three or more goals in any of their matches.
Man United are the only team to have achieved the feat in the Premier League era after conceding no more than two goals in any of their games in the 2007-08 and 2017-18 seasons.
Arsenal should fancy their chances of equalling Man United’s record, even though they are unable to call upon their first-choice central defensive pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Gunners boast the Premier League’s best defensive record with just 33 goals conceded, and they are set to face a Southampton side that are the league’s lowest scorers with just 25 goals in 37 matches.
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Arsenal at risk of replicating 101-year goalscoring record
At the opposite end of the pitch, the Gunners at at risk of going through a whole league campaign without a single player reaching double figures for the first time since 1923-24.
Kai Havertz is just one goal away from reaching double figures, although he is only likely to be used from the bench after returning from a hamstring injury last weekend.
Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli require braces to hit 10 goals, having scored eight goals apiece in the Premier League season.
As for Mikel Merino, he has scored seven times in 27 top-flight matches this term, meaning he would require a hat-trick against Southampton to bring up double figures.
There should be opportunities for Arsenal’s attacking options to get on the scoresheet, with Southampton holding the league’s worst defensive record with 84 goals conceded.
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