Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info

Arsenal can make it seven wins in a row in the Premier League if they beat Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. It's a tough fixture for the newly promoted club, who will be facing a free-scoring Gunners squad currently level on points with leaders Manchester City.

The key to Arsenal's run of fine form has been a blistering forward line led by Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott. Their pace, movement and goals are terrorising opponents.

The form of both has to concern Boro manager Aitor Karanka. He's seen a defence that was the most stubborn in the land last season fold too often against better opposition so far in this campaign.

Before a preview, here are the schedule and viewing details:

Date: Saturday, October 22

Time: 3 p.m. (BST) / 10 a.m. (ET)

TV: Sky Sports 1 (Soccer Saturday Updates) / NBCSN

Live Stream: BBC Sport (Online Updates) / NBC Sports App

Preview

The Gunners are in rampant mood after hitting six past Ludogorets Razgrad in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. It was a goal rush symptomatic of Arsenal's newfound ruthless efficiency up top.

Unlike last season, manager Arsene Wenger's team is getting goals in bunches, as this statistic from the Champions League shows:

There's a suddenness about the Gunners' forward line this season. They can strike in an instant with the right ball to meet the perceptive and swift runs of Walcott and Sanchez.

With greater pace and more subtle movement to aim for, Wenger's team is playing quicker. They're sitting off the opposition, intercepting the ball deep and releasing instant passes over the top for a pair of strikers playing on the last shoulder of defenders.

Wenger's big challenge is to establish the right balance by underpinning his more prolific and fluid attack with the necessary defensive resolve. More often than not this season, the balance has been achieved by playing destructive holding player Francis Coquelin at the base of midfield.

The tenacious Frenchman is the most adept tackler in Arsenal's squad, and he's also got a strong sense of defensive positioning.

Those qualities showed up often to help keep the door closed against Ludogorets, per Squawka:

Coquelin will likely be needed again after Granit Xhaka's red card during the recent 3-2 win over Swansea City. Yet Wenger's greater concern may be who to use to partner the former France under-21 international.

Usually, pass master Santi Cazorla fills the role, but Wenger has been left worrying about a possible Achilles issue after substituting the Spaniard against Ludogorets, per Tom Dutton of the London Evening Standard: “He got a kick on the back of his Achilles tendon, and I took him off as quick as possible.”

Perhaps Egyptian Mohamed Elneny will be asked to fill in. It's even possible Aaron Ramsey might be involved after a lengthy injury absence.

The Welsh playmaker hasn't featured since the opening day, but he's taken to social media to hint at an imminent return:

Middlesbrough may not have the defensive resources to cope with Arsenal, but Karanka's men have the talent in attack to score some goals of their own. Specifically, Spanish target man Alvaro Negredo can be a handful, as can roaming forward Cristhian Stuani.

The Gunners still appear vulnerable defensively, having conceded nine times already in England's top flight, per the division's official site. So far though they've been content to outscore the opposition, something they should manage again against a team that's leaked 11 goals in eight matches.