By
Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist
- Published13 minutes ago
Arsenal's rare win at Anfield last weekend made it eight wins from their opening nine league matches of the season and sent a message of gritty intent to their Premier League rivals.
It even had football statisticians Opta speculating on the Gunners winning the title by a record margin, an accolade currently held byManchester City, who finished 19 points clear in 2017-18.
While that may be a bit premature, Arsenal's total of 24 points after nine games is the most by a team at this stage of a Premier League season since Mikel Arteta's side also had 24 in 2022-23.
Only in 2004-05 and 2007-08 (both 25 points) have Arsenal ever had more at this stage of a Premier League campaign. They are two points better off after nine games of this campaign than last season, when they won the title.
Arsenal may not be quite firing yet in attack – just 14 goals in their nine league games – but they look solid in defence, with their five goals conceded the fewest in the top flight.
They have the lowest xG conceded (7.24), have faced the fewest shots on target (24) and have had clean sheets in their past three league games.
The determination they showed at Anfield reflects the fact that they have won all six of the league matches in which they have taken the lead this season.
Arteta's sides have developed a habit of this over his years in the top flight, with the Spaniard behind only Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho in this category.
Hull City are currently mid-table but haven't won a match since August, drawing five of their subsequent seven league games.
Although no promoted side who has had 11 points after nine games has been relegated from the Premier League since 2010-11, the Tigers will be wary of getting dragged into a battle at the bottom.
This will be Hull City's 200th Premier League game. They have lost more than half of the previous 199 (103), and their record at Arsenal doesn't bode well for any immediate improvement of that statistic.
They have won just one of their 13 away games against Arsenal, a 2-1 victory on their first visit to Emirates Stadium in September 2008.
Hull have a joint-high five draws in this season's Premier League, while Arsenal have had none. If the Tigers can come away from north London with a point on Saturday, it will feel like a victory.
