Commentary: Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1

Last updated: 15th March 2008

Arsene Wenger Arsenal

Wenger: Can he lead the Gunners to glory?

Booked: Eboue has been cautioned after the whistle for remonstrating with Mark Halsey.

Full-time: Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1. More dropped points for Arsenal as their title bid continues to falter.

90 + 3 - Desperate: No way through for Walcott as he sees two attempts blocked at point blank range by heroic Boro defending.

90 + 1 - Solid: It's one way traffic at the moment and Boro are clinging on gamely. Huth with a fanstastic block to deny Bendtner when the striker was about to pull the trigger.

Four minutes of stoppage time has been indicated. Can the Gunners snatch it? Will Boro hold on with only 10 men?

Sub: Senderos replaces the injured Clichy.

Sent off: Mido is off after less than 15 minutes on the field. His foot was very high and he did catch Clichy on the top of the head, but there was no intent from the striker and he will feel hard done to. Can the Gunners make their extra man count in the final minutes?

86 - GOAL: Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1. Toure to the rescue for the Gunners. A bullet header from the centre-back which Schwarzer and Taylor fail to deal with and the scores are level. There is suggestion of the goal going down as an own-goal but Toure is claiming it.

84 - So close: Eboue once again gets the better of Pogatez and drives a dangerous cross into the near post. Flamini has got in front of his man, but sees his clever flick fall straight into the hands of Schwarzer.

83 - Poor touch:Horrible touch by Flamini on the edge of the box when he would have had time to get a shot away. Time is running out for the Gunners and look slightly desperate.

81 - Rare mistake: After praising Schwarzer he was bound to make a mistake and he has duly obliged. He misjudged a long cross from Walcott and isrelieved to see the ball cannon off the back of Gallas and go behind for a goal kick.

Booking: O'Neil is cautioned for clumsy challenge on Walcott.

79 - Playing safe: Downing picks up the ball out on the right but only has Mido to aim for in the middle and unsurprisingly the attack fizzles out.

Sub: Goal scorer Aliadiere makes way for Mido. The Egyptian should help provide a physical presence up front for Boro.

76 - Safe hands: Schwarzer again does well under pressure to pluck a high ball out of the air with Arsenal players lining up behind him. The Boro keeper has been his usual reliable self today and will be pleased to have kept a clean sheet so far.

74 - Off the post: Fabregas sees an unmarked header from the centre of the box flick off the outside of the upright and behind for a goal kick. The Spaniard found space really well and looks as likely as anyone to find the target for the Gunners.

73 - No room: Hleb and Adebayor try to pick their way through a congested Boro defence but find their way blocked at every turn. The visitors are sitting deeper and deeper and are iniviting trouble.

70 - Weather: What is it with the weather at the moment? The Emirates is currently been lashed by rain which is hardly helping the game as a spectacle. A slippery ball may cause problems to the keepers though so hopefully we will see a few speculative efforts in the last 20 minutes.

Sub: Taylor comes on for Tuncay as Boro look to hold onto their lead.

68 - Drifting: Downing fizzes a rasping 25-yard effort inches over the top of Almunia's bar. The keeper would have been struggling had it been on target and is grateful to see it end up in the crowd behind his goal.

66 - Another chance: Best chance of the game for the Gunners falls to Fabregas. He finds himslef one-on-one with Schwarzer but can't force a low effort past the big Australian. Great stop by the Boro keeper, but Arsenal would not have wanted the chance to fall to anyone else.

66 - Claim: Confident claim by Schwarzer with Bendtner breathing down his neck. There is definitely more urgency about Arsenal in the last few minutes.

64 - Close: Eboue whips in a fine cross from the right which Bendtner heads agonisingly wide under pressure from Huth. He should have done better from six yards out and another opportunity goes begging for the Gunners.

62 - Foul: The crowd are on there feet as Bendtner's first touch plays in Adebayor. The Danish striker has been given offiside though and the Emirates collectively slumps back into their seats.

Sub: Sagna makes way for Bendtner and Walcott comes on for Van Persie. Attacking change by Wenger who realises that he can ill afford to see three more points slip through his fingers.

60 - Numbers: Clichy sees an ambitious 25-yard drive deflect behind for a corner. It looked on target and would have caused Schwarzer problems had it got through.

59 - Off target: Great climb by Toure to meet a Fabregas corner, but sends a flicked header skidding wide of the far post. Half a chance for the defender and he will be disappointed not to have worked the keeper.

58 - Warm up: Walcott is preparing himself on the sidelines. Is he the man to rescue the Gunners? Will his pace help unlock a resolute Boro defence? Let us know what you think.

56 - Quiet: Arsenal continue to dominate possession but seem to be lacking in ideas at present. Boro are more than happy to get men behind the ball and frustrate the Gunners into trying Hollywood passes.

Poor decisions: Dev believes that the Gunners have been the victims of some questionable decisions from the officials and don't deserve to be behind. I have to agree that Aliadiere did look offside in the build up to the Boro goal and that the Gunners can rightly claim to be hard done to.

No chance: Thanks to Steve for getting in contact and insisting that Boro have what it takes to hold on and record a memorable double over the Gunners.

52 - Great chance: What a waste by Gallas. He finds himself unmarked in acres of space eight yards from goal, but sends a header sailing high over the bar. Arsenal should be level and their skipper knows what an opportunity that was. Groans again from the crowd who are grwoing increasingly restless.

50 - Tussle: Eboue and Tuncay break into an impromptu bout of WWE wrestling down the left, and it is the Arsenal man who is deemed to be the main offender. It seemed that like they were both as guilty as each other, and Halsey should have let play continue.

48 - Just wide: Van Persie comes deep to pick up possession before unleashing a 25-yard drive narrowly wide of Schwarzer's left hand post. The keeper would probably have had it covered but it is as close as Arsenal have come.

46 - Wide: Downing twists and turns down the left before pulling a clever ball back to O'Neil. He fails to catch his volley cleanly and slices it away towards the corner flag. Bright start by Boro and more sloppy marking by Arsenal.

Second-half: Boro get us up and running as the Emirates crowd tries to lift their side for one big effort in the next 45 minutes.

Sub: Cattermole comes on in place of Shawky.

Can Arsenal get back into the game during the second-half, or will Boro hold on? Thoughts to Chris.Burton@bskyb.com

Half-time: Arsenal o Middlesbrough 1. Aliadiere has piled more misery on his former club and Boro are on course to record a surprise victory in North London.

45 +1 - Race: Aliadiere and Sagne prove that they are no slouches, but are almost clattered by Almunia as he takes control of the situation and comes bursting out of his goal to make a flying clearance.

44 - Overlap: Boateng with a clever ball into space behind Sagna which sets Downing off down the left. He looks up to see Tuncay in space in the middle but his attempted cross is cut out by the retreating Gallas. A warning to Arsenal that they cannot afford to throw too many men forward just yet.

42 - Almost: Great recovery by Young as Van Persie threatens to run away from him and in on goal. The full-back presents the Arsenal man with the chance but manages to get a vital toe to the ball and clear to safety. The last thing Boro need to do is get sloppy and gift the Gunners a goal.

41 - Double effort: Adebayor hits a woeful volley more sideways than forwards, but does manage to pick out Fabregas who forces Schwarzer into a comfortable low save.

39 - Threat: Rare foray forward from Boro which almost sees Aliadiere get on the end of a hopeful cross from the left by Downing. The ball is fractrionally too far in front of him though and Alumian tidys up for the Gunners.

38 - Quiet: Middlesbrough are struggling to get out of their own half at present, but a nervous hush has descended over the stadium as the home support realise they are making hard work of life at the moment.

36 - Power: Mo messing around from Adebayor as he sends Huth crashing to the turf. Unsurprisingly a free-kick is awarded against him, but he is letting Huth know that he means business this evening.

34 - Pressure: Three quick corners in succession for Arsenal, none of which really threaten Schwarzer in the Boro goal. Southgate has got his side well drilled at the back and they look solid at the moment. He will not want them to be under siege for prolonged periods of time though.

33 - No pen: Eboue looks to go around the outside of Pogatez and goes down in the box under pressure from the full-back. Pogatez did have his arms out but he made little contact with Eboue and referee Mark Halsey rightly waves away the protests.

30 - Drive: Lung-bursting break by Sagna as he powers past two Boro defenders and into the box. With the goal in his sights his touch lets him down and he is unable to get away a clean shot under pressure from Wheater. Arsenal seem to be enjoying the most luck down their right and Downing needs to provide better cover to Pogatez if Boro are to curb their success.

29 - Waste: Van Persie is presented with a great opportunity to either shoot or cross on the left of the box. He does neither really and drags ,what looked like an attempt on goal, behind Adebayor and away for a goal kick.

28 - Pleased: Gareth Southgate looks like a happy man on the sidelines as he urges his side forward.

Booking: Wheater is cautioned for a late challenge on Van Persie. He will have to be careful with a long time to go in the game yet.

25 - GOAL: Arsenal 0 Middlesbrough 1. Dream goal for Aliadiere. A long ball from Schawarzer runs on to Tuncay, he squares for the Frenchman to finish with aplomb from 10-yards out. Shocking defending by Arsenal who left two men completelt free and have paid the price as a result.

23 - Keep ball: A prolonged period of possession which sees almost every player touch the ball at some point. They don't get very far though and Boro will be happy for them to play among themselves 40-yards from goal.

21 - Close: Route one by Arsenal as Fabregas launches a pass towards Adebayor. The striker outpaces Huth, but sees the ball skip away from him as it bounches and is unable to reach it before Schwarzer comes to claim. Proof that pretty, passing football is not always the best option , especially with a physical presence like Adebayor up top.

19 - Poor pass: Eboue cuts in off his wing and drives across the edge of the box. With options either side he tries to feed Fabregas, but underhits his pass and the Spaniard is unable to get a good contact on his effort as he stretches to beat Huth. Bright again though by Eboue and he looks a real threat so far.

17 - Well over: Good hold up play by Tuncay as he prevents O'Neil with an opportunity to try his luck from 20-yards. HIs luck is most definitely out though, as his effort sails high, wide and handsome.

16 - Save: Eboue with the first real sight of goal this evening and sees his low drive beaten away by Schwarzer. Arsenal cut open Boro far too easily and will be grateful to their keeper for keeping the scores level.

15 - Swing: Van Persie pulls away at the back post and is perfectly placed to receive a long pass from Toure. The Dutchman tries to catch a first time volley but only succeeds in slashing at thin air. He looks embarrassed and so he should for a player of his considerable talent.

13 - Cover: Aliadiere escapes down the left but is beaten to the ball by an onrushing Almunia who has come flying out of his area to clear the danger.

12 - Knock: Adebayor is forced off for treatment on a mouth injury, but it will take more than that to take the Togolese hit man out of the game.

10 - Chance: Great football by Arsenal sees Van Persie, Adebayor and Fabregas all involved in a flowing move. Fabregas finds space on the right and lifts a cross onto the head of Adebayor. The striker climbs well above his man but his effort lacks power and is easily saved. A brief glimpse though of what the Gunners are capable of and the task facing Boro if everything falls into place for Wenger's men.

8 - Off the bar: Hopeful curling cross from the right by Eboue which drifts over the head of Schwarzer and deflects away off the frame of the goal. Eboue certainly had no intention of going for goal but almost gave the hosts a fortunate lead.

7 - Good start: A couple of decent blocks by Wheater as he looks to keep up his impressive form this season. Fabregas is foiled on both occasions and is yet to really get his foot on the ball.

6 - Too long: Lofted pass over the top for Aliadiere to chase, but it is overhit and runs through to a grateful Almunia. Boro don't look like they are going to just sit close shop and hope for the best, they are keen to get the bal;l forward at every opportunity.

4 - Offside: Adebayor has the ball in the back of the net but is adjudged to have strayed offside. The last touch through to him seemed to come off Boateng though and Boro are lucky to see the strike chalked off.

3 - Sloppy: Aliadiere does little to suggest that Arsenal were wrong to get rid of him by miscontrolling a simple pass and knocking the ball out of play. The Frenchman will be keen to make his mark against his former club, but will need to do better than that.

2 - Challenge: Downing looks to test out Sagna for pace but the full-back has more than enough for the England man is able to stop him getting in a cross. It should be a good battle between the two and it will be interesting to see how Sagna copes with the Boro man.

Kick-off: Arsenal get us underway.

The teams are in the tunnel and the stadium is buzzing with expectation. Which Arsenal will we see today? The free-flowing, entertaining Gunners or the side which failed to break down Wigan last time out? Expect Boro to show plenty of passion and make life difficult for the leaders, with breakaway attacks likely to provide their best chance of grabbing a goal and putting a massive dent in their opponents title hopes.

Any comments, predictions, moans and groans - basically anything you want to say about game, feel free to get it contact on Chris.Burton@bskyb.com

Can Boro complete a memorable league double over the Gunners, or will Wenger's men return to winning ways after three consecutive Premier League draws?

Middlesbrough team: Schwarzer, Young, Huth, Wheater, Pogatez, O'Neil, Shawky, Boateng, Downing, Tuncay, Aliadiere. Subs: Mido, Cattermole, Arca, Taylor, Turnbull.

Arsenal team: Alumina, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Adebayor, Van Persie. Subs: Walcott, Bendtner, Gilberto, Senderos, Lehmann.

Welcome to the Emirates for skysports.com's coverage of today's Premier League encounter between Arsenal and Middlesbrough.