After fading last season, Arsenal target statement win over Man City

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Arsenal spent 248 days at the top of the Premier League last season and still ended up empty-handed.

By Sunday night it could return to the summit of England’s top division and deliver a big statement in the process.

Arsenal hosts champion Manchester City at Emirates Stadium in a meeting between last season’s top two that will be seen as an early gauge of the Londoners’ title credentials.

Arsenal last won the trophy in 2004 and looked set to end its wait to lift it again by repeatedly confounding preseason expectations to lead the way from the start until the closing stages of the campaign. Eventually, though, it folded under the pressure from City to earn the distinction of having spent the longest period at the top without being crowned champions.

Arsenal has responded impressively after last season’s disappointment. It beat City in the Community Shield in August and goes into Sunday’s game a point behind the champions, whose 100% winning start in

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