Middlesbrough v Arsenal 21/09/96 3.00Middlesbrough (0) 0 Arsenal (2) 2 FT Hartson 3 Wright 27 Middlesbrough's charge up the Premiership came to a shuddering halt as ruthless Arsenal marched to a deserved win at the Riverside Stadium. First-half goals from John Hartson and Ian Wright put the Gunners firmly in command and they controlled the game after the break to inflict a first home defeat of the season on Bryan Robson's men. An impressive display from £3.5million signing Patrick Vieira, making his first start, and a successful comeback by Tony Adams, who played for an hour after replacing Lee Dixon, completed a good day for the Gunners. But it was afternoon to forget for Boro' and for the Premiership's leading scorer Fabrizio Ravanelli. The Italian hitman, who had plundered 10 goals before this encounter, was denied by crossbar and post and failed to score in a home game for the first time. Boro' had chalked up four straight wins the latest a 7-0 rout of Hereford in midweek but Arsenal were not about to be intimidated and they swiftly brought the home side down to earth with a bump. The Gunners were bristling with determination from the first whistle and made their presence felt with some typically robust challenges. With Boro' protesting that Curtis Fleming had been fouled just inside the Arsenal half, Lee Dixon launched a long crossfield pass and Hartson coolly lobbed over the advancing Alan Miller to put his side ahead inside three minutes. Boro' pressed for an equaliser and Ravanelli rattled the Arsenal crossbar with a 30-yard free kick but Arsenal were looking dangerous on the break and Wright volleyed over the bar from Dixon's nod down. Boro's defence was looking hesistant and it came as no surprise when Arsenal were gifted a second goal on 27 minutes. Steve Vickers lost his footing while attempting to clear on the left edge of his penalty area and Wright gratefully accepted the gift, placing his shot wide of Miller and into the far corner for his fifth goal in three games. Ravanelli was unfortunate not to get Boro back in the game two minutes later his right foot snapshot thudding against the far post and cannoning across the face of goal. That was the cue for Adams to replace the injured Dixon and the Gunners finished the half strongly. Miller had to parry Hartson's drive and claw away a Vieira shot, and Merson's rising drive was deflected onto the post with Miller beaten. Boro's response, on the stroke of half-time, was a Juninho drive tipped over by Seaman. Arsenal looked to have the game comfortably under control at the start of the second-half, soaking up Boro' pressure and threatening to kill them off on the break. Wright ought to have claimed his second goal when Hartson's cross found him unmarked at the far post and Merson sliced wide when a dreadful mistake by Phil Whelan left him with only Miller to beat. Boro' looked increasingly dispirited as the half wore on and Arsenal cruised through the last 20 minutes Wright almost claiming his second goal with a fierce drive that flashed just wide in the final minute. 
Middlesbrough: (5-3-2) Miller, Cox, Whyte, Vickers (Stamp, 62), Whelan, Emerson (Moore, 71), Barmby, Mustoe (Branco, 90), Juninho, Ravanelli, Fleming. Subs not used: Hendrie, Roberts. Booked: Juninho. Arsenal: (4-4-2) Seaman, Dixon (Adams, 30), Winterburn, Vieira, Bould, Platt, Wright, Merson, Linighan, Keown, Hartson. Subs not used: Lukic, Marshall, Shaw, Rose. Booked: Vieira, Keown, Adams, Hartson. Attendance: 29,629. Referee: M Bodenham (Looe). |
