Football Feature: Match Report

Middlesbrough 1 : 1 Arsenal

Arsene Wenger's record-700th match at Arsenal ended up a disappointment as too many matches have already this season.

Middlesbrough started the brighter of the two, enjoying more possession and creating more chances. They were strong winds in Arsenal's back in the opening ten minutes until - against run of play - Arsenal warned Boro with a good chance in the 11th minute.

Soon after that Diaby went close again from the left, winning a corner for the Gunners. From that set-piece, Middlesbrough showed some disappointing defending, Robert Huth being drawn away by Diaby leaving Adebayor free to score an easy goal from a Fabregas cross (see picture, right).


Both clubs enjoyed good chances after that but not challenging the goalkeepers too much and Arsenal the more dominant of the two - until an equaliser came like out of the blue. Arsenal seemed settled 1:0 in the lead until they gave away the ball near the box to Tuncay Sanli who crossed it to ex-Gunner Aliadiere who smashed it into the net giving Almunia no chance to stop it (see picture, below left).

The equaliser transformed the atmosphere and run of the match with Middlesbrough keeping the pressure on Arsenal and having a penalty appeal denied just minutes later. Clichy looked guilty fowling Johnson and putting his hands up immediately, but the referee showed no interest.

Moments later, van Persie, who had a quiet match, missed a golden chance to take the lead back just before half time, letting the ball drift through his legs to go out for a goal kick.

At half time, Middlesbrough had to be the happier with Arsenal looking more and more frustrated. This hardly changed in the second half. Middlesbrough learnt from the defensive snooze that gave away the goal in the first half and stayed solid in the back, blocking shot after shot that came from the Gunners. Downing pulled a great save out of Almunia on the hour mark but apart from that most of the chances fell to Arsenal - with no prevail.

It stayed 1 : 1 which was a fair result in the end after Middlesbrough's defence didn't falter and fail against all the late pressure Arsenal put them under. With only three wins in the last eight games, the Gunners stay 4th - but Aston Villa can overtake them if they win against Bolton later this afternoon. Boro go up one spot for the time-being to 11th, but haven't won in the last five matches.

Both teams will have enough to contemplate about what has to be done to change their forms.

(pictures taken from News of the World)