Unbeaten throughout last term in the league, Arsenal can equal the record for the English top-flight set by Clough's Nottingham Forest, who went 42 league matches without defeat from November 1977 to December 1978.

Their management styles could not be more contrasting, with the hard-drinking Clough remembered for his outspoken pugnacity and Wenger known for his calculating Gallic cool.

Yet both have been outstanding at developing the skills of players who were underperforming at other clubs, and turning unwanted players into all-conquering champions.

Wenger's men, whose last league defeat was in May 2003 to Leeds United, are already on a roll after opening their title defence last weekend with a convincing 4-1 victory at Everton.

Boro, who did the double over two second-string Arsenal sides on the way to winning the League Cup last season, snatched a 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle United in the north-east derby.

Of the 22 players who walk out in north London on Sunday, none will have more butterflies than 31-year-old Ray Parlour, who returns to Highbury in a Boro shirt just a month after ending an Arsenal career that started as a teenage trainee.

Chelsea should continue their promising start under new coach Jose Mourinho when they travel to Birmingham City after beating a depleted Manchester United side 1-0 last weekend.

They will meet some familiar faces after Danish winger Jesper Gronkjaer and Dutch defender Mario Melchiot swapped Stamford Bridge for St Andrews in the close season.

However, Chelsea's Finnish striker Mikael Forssell, on loan at City for another year, will not be allowed to play.

UNITED'S INJURIES

Manchester United are still decimated by injuries, suspension and Olympic duty as they prepare to host newly-promoted Norwich City.

United's exciting winger Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to play despite Portugal's mid-week exit from the Athens Olympic Games, while three strikers -- Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha and long-term injured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer -- are unavailable.

England's Alan Smith will shoulder the burden up front, backed by midfielder Paul Scholes in an advanced role, as United look for a morale boost ahead of next week's Champions League qualifier second leg at home to Dinamo Bucharest.

Elsewhere, Liverpool host Manchester City, whose winger Shaun Wright-Phillips scored a superb goal on his England debut in a 3-0 midweek friendly win over Ukraine.

Newcastle United are at home to Tottenham Hotspur, while the season's first Midlands derby gets underway on Sunday at the Hawthorns between promoted West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa.