Arsenal v Manchester City: How an evening kick-off will suit Arsene Wenger's late starters

The Gunners have won in each of their last four 5.30pm kick-offs

Aaron Ramsey scores in the 2-0 win over Liverpool on November 2 2013, Per Mertesacker celebrates the victory against Swansea on September 28 2013, Theo Walcott scores against QPR on May 4 2013 and Olivier Giroud salutes the away crowd after scoring agains (Getty Images)

Arsenal have been well and truly trounced by their fellow top four teams in the Premier League this season, conceding a total of 17 goals in their last three matches against the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, and of course Manchester City, who they face at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.

Last week's 6-0 demolition by Jose Mourinho's Blues was latest in a long line of nightmare defeats against their title rivals, a result that marked Arsene Wenger's landmark 1,000th match in charge of the north Londoners in disastrous fashion.

But here's a reason to give Wenger some hope - the match starts at 5.30pm on Saturday, and how have the Gunners fared in their last four Premier League fixtures that have kicked off at that time? They have won them all.

This is in direct contrast to the sleepy Gunner's results in the early Saturday 12.45pm kick-offs, in which they have lost their last three.

Arsenal's last four Premier League 5.30pm Saturday kick-offs

Arsenal 2 Liverpool 0 (2 Nov 2013)

Swansea 1 Arsenal 2 (28 Sept 2013)

QPR 0 Arsenal 1 (4 May 2013)

Arsenal 7 Newcastle 3 (29 Dec 2012)

The German giant Per Mertesacker joked after the thrashing at Stamford Bridge: "It looks like we are going to have to apply to the FA to not play at 12.45 away. That would help us a lot.

“We wanted to start very strong and show people we are good enough, but they scored the two very early goals."

And Mertesacker has a point.

Arsenal's last three Premier League 12.45pm Saturday kick-offs

Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0 (22 March 2014)

Liverpool 5 Arsenal 1 (8 Feb 2014)

Man City 6 Arsenal 3 (14 Dec 2013)

Arsenal have another 1,000 milestone that could be achieved this weekend, but it will be marked in better circumstances than last weekend's hammering.

The Gunners have scored 999 Premier League goals in London, and should they score one goal against Manchester City on Saturday they will become the first team to score 1,000 Premier League goals in a city.

Most Premier League goals in a city

Arsenal 999 (London)

Chelsea 980 (London)

Manchester United 951 (Manchester)