The goalless draw on Saturday was not the only first for Arsenal this season - it was also the first time the Arsenal starting XI has not featured a Frenchman this campaign.
In fact, Saturday's stalemate at West Ham was only the second time the Gunners have started the game without a Gallic player in the line-up under the stewardship of Arsène Wenger - the first and last time being way back in the final game of the 1999/00 season at Newcastle.
According to Wenger, the consistency of ex-captain Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry - who is currently sidelined by injury - offer an explanation but the Arsenal boss adds that his players' nationalities are highly irrelevant.
"Thierry and Patrick did not miss many [games] for us and with both of them now missing for different reasons explains that," he said.
"I was amazed when somebody told me - it just goes to show how little I look at a player's nationality. I didn't know but it is amazing because we still have a few French or French-speaking players here."
Since former skipper Patrick Vieira made his Arsenal debut by replacing Ray Parlour as a substitute in the 28th minute of a Premier League match against Sheffield Wednesday at Highbury on 16 September 1996, there have only been five occasions during any moment of a match when a Frenchman has not been on the field for Arsenal:
ARSENAL 5-2 STOKE CITY
13 November, 1996
Coca-Cola Cup Third Round
Steve Morrow replaced Patrick Vieira in the 78th minute. The
Arsenal team for remainder of the match was:
Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Keown, Bould, Adams, Platt,
Wright, Merson, Bergkamp (Hartson), Morrow.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1-2 ARSENAL
21 December, 1996
Premier League
Steve Morrow replaced Remi Garde in the 78th minute.
TheArsenal team for remainder of the match was:
Lukic, McGowan (Parlour), Winterburn, Keown, Bould,
Linighan, Platt, Wright, Merson, Bergkamp (Hartson), Morrow.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2-0 ARSENAL
22 November, 1997
Premier League
Scott Marshall replaced Gilles Grimandi in 51st minute.The Arsenal
team for remainder of the match was:
Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Keown, Marshall, Adams, Parlour
(Hughes), Platt, Wright, Mendez (Wreh), Overmars.
NEWCASTLE UNITED 4-2 ARSENAL
14 May, 2000
Premier League
The squad did not feature a Frenchman. The Arsenal team:
Manninger, Luzhny, Keown, Weston (McGovern), Winterburn,
Parlour (Silvinho), Malz, Vernazza, Cole, Suker, Kanu (Gray). Subs
not used: Lukic, Black.
ARSENAL 2-0 EVERTON
19 September, 2005
Premier League
Alexander Hleb replaced Robert Pires after 29
minutes. The Arsenal team for remainder of the match was:
Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg,
Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb, Reyes (Song 85), van Persie (Bergkamp
66).
WEST HAM 0-0 ARSENAL
24 September, 2005
Premier League
The starting XI did not feature a Frenchman. The Arsenal team:
Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg,
Fabregas, Gilberto (Flamini 71), Hleb, Reyes (Owusu-Abeyie 73), Van
Persie (Clichy 82).
