Mikel Arteta and Arsene Wenger's first 100 games comparison gives Arsenal hope

Arsenal fans will be filled with optimism as Mikel Arteta boasts a better record than the legendary Arsene Wenger after his first 100 games as manager.

Recent England call-up Emile Smith Rowe netted the only goal of the game as the Gunners beat promoted Watford 1-0 on Sunday to continue their charge up the Premier League table.

The victory means Arsenal are currently fifth and extended the club's unbeaten streak to ten matches with an impressive seven clean sheets coming during that run.

The triumph also marked manager Arteta's 100th game in charge of the Gunners having been appointed in December 2019.

Not only will the three points on this landmark occasion be cause for celebration for Arteta, but the milestone also sees the Spaniard boast a better record than Arsenal's most successful manager ever in Wenger.

After 100 games, Arteta's Arsenal have amassed 54 victories, three more than Wenger and only two shy of George Graham's club record of 56 after a century of matches in charge.

Smith Rowe's controversial strike, which was scored amid protests from Claudio Ranieri's Watford that possession should have been sportingly conceded after the ball was put out for an injury, marked the 163rd goal of the Arteta era.

Once again, this was an improvement on the 157 goals netted in Wenger's first 100 matches after he took up the reins in 1996.

While Arteta has seen his side defeated on 26 occasions - eight more than Wenger - he's only recorded 20 draws compared to the 31 achieved during the Frenchman's opening ton of matches in charge.

The writing looked on the wall for Arteta following three straight defeats at the start of the Premier League season, which left his side languishing bottom of the table, but the Spaniard has masterminded a miraculous turnaround.

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Speaking after the landmark match with Watford on Sunday, Arteta stated: "I'm just a baby in management, when I compare myself to someone like Claudio [Ranieri], for example.

"I am so honoured to be where I am. I feel a lot of unity around the club, among the players.

"I can see the players, the day before a match they are excited to play at the Emirates and the players on the bench are desperate to come in."

Despite his relative inexperience, Arteta has already guided Arsenal to glory as they lifted both the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2020.

With Wenger having gone on to claim 17 trophies during his 22-year spell with the Gunners, the signs are promising that Arteta can steer Arsenal to more silverware and gather an impressive trophy haul of his own.