Arsenal 0 Middlesbrough 0
Boro needed a performance like the one they produced at
Emirates Stadium on Saturday to remind everyone that they can compete at the
highest level.
Few would have given Aitor Karanka’s side a chance against
rampant Arsenal side, who had won their last seven games in all competitions
and scored six past Bulgarian side Ludogorets last time out.
Yet Boro had the better chances and could be forgiven for
feeling disappointed with a point, after a valiant display away from home.
In the end, a goalless draw was the least they deserved,
after Arsenal keeper Petr Cech made a series of first half saves- denying
Alvaro Negredo, Gaston Ramirez and Adama Traore.
As expected, Arsenal monopolised possession but they lacked
the verve and the guile to break down the resilient visitors.
Boro remained compact and disciplined throughout, as the
midfield trio of Adam Clayton, Marten De Roon and Adam Forshaw protected the
back four admirably.
They had a threat on the break, too, most notably though the
rapid Traore, whose pace on the counter attack struck fear into Arsenal’s
backline.
Karanka had received criticism following his side’s 1-0
defeat to Watford last weekend, however his tactics functioned seamlessly here.
The Boro boss made three changes from the side which started
against Watford at the Riverside last Sunday.
Calum Chambers was ineligible to play against his parent
club so Daniel Ayala returned at the back.
Clayton returned and was deployed in a three-man midfield,
while further forward Traore made his first start for the club on the right. Stewart
Downing and Cristian Stuani dropped to the bench.
Arsene Wenger, on his 67th birthday, made two
changes from the side which beat Swansea the previous week and they appeared to
miss the creativity of the injured Santi Carzorla in midfield.
Granit Xhaka was also missing, due to a suspension, so
Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny lined up in the middle of the park.
The early exchanges played out as many would have expected,
with Arsenal confidently stroking the ball around the Boro penalty area -however
Victor Valdes barely had a save to make.
At the other end, Cech was soon called upon when a quick
burst forward from Traore was finally thwarted by the Arsenal keeper. The
attack didn’t end there, as the loose ball dropped to Negredo but Cech reacted
swiftly to save with his feet.
Minutes later, a foray forward from George Friend won Boro a
free kick on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area. Gaston Ramirez took it but
his curling effort rattled the bar.
The Uruguayan had an even better chance when he was found by
Traore’s cross but Cech parried away his close-range header.
On 35 minutes, it was Valdes’ turn to take centre stage, as
he kept out a curling free kick from Alexis Sanchez with flying save.
After the break Valdes denied Sanchez again after the
Chilean unleased a dipping shot from the edge of the area.
Boro’s threat didn’t go away, though, and another Traore
charge forced Cech into action once again.
Arsenal thought they had snatched a winner in the dying
minutes when substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot was turned into the by
Mesut Ozil. However, the linesman’s flag was rightly raised for offside.
No comments:
Post a Comment