Mikel Arteta is on the cusp of making history after Arsenal maintained their perfect record since Liz Truss became UK Prime Minister.
The last time that the Gunners didn't win a match was a 3-1 loss Manchester United on September 4, two days before Truss moved into No.10 Downing Street. But not even two months later, the Conservative leader has resigned following a crisis-ridden 44 days as PM.
She will, however, remain in her post until a successor is elected from within the Tory party by the end of next week. Truss' shock announcement during a brief press conference on Thursday afternoon gave Arteta three games to record a unique feat. The first match was a relatively straightforward 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League, as Granit Xhaka 's second-half goal maintained Arsenal's 100 per cent record in the competition this season.
It was a fairly uneventful night at the Emirates compared to elsewhere in the capital, with Xhaka coolly tucking home Takehiro Tomiyasu's cross in the 71st minute to condemn PSV to defeat. The Gunners can now confirm themselves as winners of Group A by avoiding defeat in Eindhoven next week.
More immediately, though, up is a trip to Southampton on Sunday, as Arsenal bid to consolidate first place in the Premier League. By the time next Thursday evening rolls around, though, Truss may well have already packed her bags and Arteta's side could be much-changed due to the fact that they've already booked their ticket to the knockout phase.
The Gunners' run since the MP for South West Norfolk took office stands at a superb eights wins from eight games, with Arteta and his players receiving heaps of praise for their fearsome early-season from. Thursday's goalscorer, Xhaka, is among those and he told BT Sport post-match: "When you win games, you have to be happy.
Have your say! Will Arsenal win their next two games? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
"Everything is going well at the moment but as well, this is not coming as a surprise. We are doing a lot of work during the week as well, game by game we have a lot of focus as well and the players who don't play a lot are coming in and giving a good performance. In the end, you win and lose as a team but at the moment, we are very dangerous."
Arteta agrees about the improved mood in the dressing room, saying pre-match: "Winning obviously helps a lot, but I have no complaints. "I think this is an exceptional group that is in a really good moment, we are enjoying the moment, we want to get better in a lot of things that we are doing, but I think that we are on the right path."
