Arsenal have not lost in the Premier League since the opening day and welcome Middlesbrough to Emirates Stadium equal on points with pace-setters Manchester City.
Arsene Wenger's men are in the misdt of a kind run of fixtures and will see Saturday's match against Aitor Karanka's newcomers as a chance to keep the heat on Pep Guardiola's side.
Though the Gunners have not met Boro in the Premier League since the latter were relegated to the second tier in 2009, Karanka took his charges to Emirates Stadium in last season's FA Cup and the Londoners marched into the sixth round with a comfortable 2-0 victory.
The visitors enjoyed an impressive start to life back in the top flight, but after a recent slump are winless since August 21 ahead of their trip to Emirates Stadium.
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WHAT THEY SAID
Arsene Wenger: “In this game a lot is linked with confidence and I feel that at the moment it’s high because we win game after game.
"That means we can get over the dodgy periods [in games] with less psychological damage but what you want is to get them out as well."
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14 mins: Forshaw plays Gibson into trouble and Elneny wins the ball back. He releases Walcott who then squares it for Ozil. The German goes down under close attention and Arsenal appeal for a penalty. Nothing doing from Mike Dean.
5 mins: Arsenal's full-backs are effectively playing as wingers in the early moments such is the space Middlesbrough are allowing them. You sense the visitors may get a chance or two on the break.
Writing in his pre-match programme notes Arsene Wenger offered a glowing assessment of Francis Coquelin, who will be a crucial figure today alongside Mohamed Elneny in Arsenal's makeshift midfield:
He understands there is a lot of competition in midfield. Of course he is a strong player, he has assets which the others have not and he came out with that on Wednesday night.
"Defensively he was monstrous and won every single challenge that was offered to him on the pitch. He was disciplined tactically and sound technically."
↵Elsewhere in the Premier League - Arsenal's rivals have missed the chance to leapfrog them and go top of the table after drawing 0-0 at Bournemouth. To make it even sweeter for Gunners supporters Jack Wilshere completed his first 90 minutes since a Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia.
A few changes for Wenger but only the one that he wouldn't have intended on making. Cech, Monreal and Iwobi return after being rested on Wednesday but Santi Cazorla has not recovered from the Achilles injury he suffered. Mohamed Elneny takes his place and will start his first Premier League match since the opening weekend of the season.
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's live coverage of Arsenal's Premier League clash with Middlesbrough from the Emirates. Can the Gunners keep their winning streak alive or will Aitor Karanka's side be able to claim an upset in London? We'll have team news very shortly then all the action as it happens.