Goals from Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were enough to rescue a win for Arsenal away at Middlesbrough, keeping alive the Gunners’ hopes of finishing in the top four.
Arsenal started the game 10 points adrift of fourth place, and Middlesbrough were six points away from climbing out of the relegation zone.
Arsene Wenger started the match with three at the back, giving Rob Holding a rare start. While neither side impressed in the first half, Sanchez curled in a fine free-kick past a static Brad Guzan.
In the second half, Alvaro Negredo equalised for the home side, and with 20 minutes of normal time left, Ozil won it with a low shot from close range.
With the victory, Arsenal move into sixth on goals scored, while ‘Boro now look doomed in their attempts to stay up. Arsenal’s post match celebrations betrayed their relief after a difficult period.
TALKING POINT
Has Arsene Wenger tinkered too late? A drop to three at the back is hardly rocket science, but putting three central defenders helps to shore up a weak central defence, and gives more bodies in the middle of the park too. It certainly helped the side to play their three best attacking players, and gave Oxlade-Chamberlain and Nacho Monreal the chance to assist in attack and defence. It wasn’t a great performance, but it was far better than it has been.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough): While he ended up on the losing side, Downing was ‘Boro’s most threatening player, and the most dangerous player on the pitch. His deft cross into the box for Negredo created a goal, and had he seen more of the ball he could have given Arsenal’s new-look defence a tougher time.
PLAYER RATINGS
Middlesbrough: Guzan 6, Barragan 6, Ayala 6, Gibson 6, Fabio 7, Clayton 6, De Roon 6, Leadbitter 6, Ramirez 6, Downing 7, Negredo 7. Subs: Friend 6, Traore 6, Gestede 6.
Arsenal: Cech 6, Gabriel 6, Koscielny 5, Holding 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Ramsey 6, Xhaka 6, Monreal 6, Ozil 7, Alexis 7, Giroud 6. Subs: Bellerin 6, Coquelin 6.
KEY EVENTS
37′ – RAMSEY FOUL – Ramsey should be off. He goes in late, studs-up into Clayton’s shins. Because the contact isn’t thuddering, no real damage is done, and he isn’t even booked. Absolutely awful refereeing.
42′ – GOAL! ‘Boro 0-1 Arsenal. Sanchez scores – Sanchez arcs a free kick from the middle of the pitch, 25 yards out, into the top corner to Guzan’s right, the ‘keeper doesn’t move. A superb free kick.
50′ – GOAL! Middesbrough 1-1 Arsenal. Negredo scores – Downing breaks down the right wing, comes onto his left foot and clips an excellent ball into the box for Negredo to put it past Cech to equalise.
61′ – AYALA HEADER – Ayala meets a cross from Downing after it’s headed back across goal by Friend, and it’s cleared off the line after Cech falls backwards to beat it out.
63′ – GUZAN SAVE – Sanchez picks out Ozil with a measured through-ball, and as he sets himself to shoot, Guzan rushes out to block the run and clear the ball.
71′ – GOAL! ‘Boro 1-2 Arsenal. Ozil scores – Sanchez floats a ball into the box gently, Ramsey deftly chests it into the path of Ozil, who whallops a shot low into the near corner.
KEY STATS
Middlesbrough have yet to win in 2017.
