Record in Gunners' sights

Henry was on target for Arsenal... again

By John May BBC Sport Online

Arsenal knew they were taking part in a bit of history when they lost 3-2 to Southampton in the last-ever game at The Dell.

But on the last day of the 2000-2001 season, they might not have suspected they were inking in the first detail for their own entry into the record books.

In a neat act of squaring the circle, the Gunners' 2-1 win over Manchester City on Tuesday night equalled the 66-year-old record held by the Sky Blues of scoring in consecutive top-flight games.

Arsenal see off Man City

Since they were held to a goalless draw by Newcastle on 15 May 2001, Arsenal have notched in 44 consecutive games, matching the record set by City.

Having failed to prevent Arsenal equalling their record, City will be looking to Charlton to stop the Gunners bettering it on Saturday.

Major contributors

Man City: 1936-37

Peter Doherty - 32 goals

Eric Brook - 22 goals

Arsenal: 2001-2002

Thierry Henry - 27 goals

Sylvain Wiltord - 15 goals

Like Arsenal, Manchester City's record spanned more than one season, and like the Gunners, the Sky Blues' haul of goals helped them to the title as they lifted the championship in 1936-37.

But the record was a poisoned chalice for a free-scoring City side who forgot football's most basic rule - that it is fine knocking them in at one end, providing you keep them out at the other.

Despite finishing Division One's top scorers in 1937-38 with 80 goals, City were relegated, thus becoming the only team to win the top-flight title and be relegated in successive seasons.

Manchester City's goalscoring run began on 3 October 1936, and ended almost exactly a year later on 9 October 1937.

While the high-profile of the Premiership ensures that the faces of Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp are familiar even to non-football fans, the men who fired Manchester City's goals came from a vastly different era.

Happy return for Ljungberg

Back then, there were no lucrative car advertising campaigns or product endorsements. Goalscoring heroes became household names mainly in their own backyards.

Manchester City's top marksman back then was Irishman Peter Doherty, who contributed 32 goals during the 44-game run, including 30 in the 1936-37 season.

That compares more than favourably with Henry's 27 during the same stretch.

Eric Brook weighed in with 23 goals during the run, a more significant contribution than Sylvain Wiltord's 15.

Celebration time as Arsenal equal the record

Brooks' name may not have reverberated down through history, but he was a prolific enough goalscorer to be Manchester City's second top scorer of all time behind Tommy Johnson.

Other stars of that City side included Ernie Toseland, Fred Tilson and defender Sam Barkas.

Perhaps the best-known name is that of goalkeeper Frank Swift.

The giant goalkeeper was a Manchester City legend, who would surely have won more England caps but for the intervention of the Second World War.

Swift was working as a journalist when he died in the 1958 Munich air disaster.

The Manchester City team also included Alex Herd, father of David who later starred for Manchester United.

Matt Busby, Manchester United's legendary manager, had ceased to be a City player at the end of the 1935-36 season.

The next target in the Gunners' sights will be the all time Football League record of scoring in 46 consecutive games, set by Chesterfield between 1929 and 1931.

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