English FA Premiership/ Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1: Nothing sums up Arsenal's dismal start to the season better than to note that they go to Old Trafford on Sunday trailing Manchester United by 10 points. Arsene Wenger's team may have a game in hand but already their margin for error for mounting a title challenge has been dramatically reduced.
Arsenal's comprehensive dominance of this game and Middlesbrough's one shot meant a draw far from reflected the flow, but this was less a hard-luck story than a familiar pattern for Wenger. Arsenal's season is on a loop in which they enjoy the majority of possession but go 1-0 down and lack the necessary incisiveness to win.
Wenger's team are at their most devastating on the counter-attack but have been largely denied such breaks, not just because opponents have defended deep, but also because sides have not conceded the first goal and been obliged to take the game to them.
A subdued Thierry Henry made few bursts down the left and only Emmanuel Eboue threatened to get behind defenders on the right. He won the penalty from which Henry equalised, after being fouled by the disappointing Stewart Downing.
Home territory provided a refuge for Arsenal during a difficult start to last season, but the new stadium is providing fewer comforts. Boro conceded 16 goals in their last three visits to Highbury but their manager Gareth Southgate said: "You are not dealing with the ghosts of the past when you come here. You have got the chance to play on a fantastic stage and it's something every player in my dressingroom was looking forward to."
Wenger described as "concerning" Arsenal's failure to win another game they controlled. Henry was right that much of the performance was positive but the captain noted, "we are not killing teams" and said: "Maybe you can say we are not there yet in front of goal and maybe there's a lack of concentration at the back."
Arsenal remain over-reliant on their captain to find the net. Robin van Persie, quiet here, needs to rediscover his form and more goal threat is due from Emmanuel Adebayor and Freddie Ljungberg. Tomas Rosicky and Julio Baptista, both of whom came off the bench on Saturday, also have to play big parts.
Boro scored from a rare attack when Johan Djourou was caught out and James Morrison exchanged passes with Jason Euell and beat Jens Lehmann.
Boro clung on even after George Boateng went for two cautions in quick succession - for dissent and a foul on Ljungberg - and Arsenal equalised.
Southgate paid tribute to Jonathan Woodgate. "He's matured enormously as a person and is physically much stronger than he was," said the manager, who described the defender as a calming presence. Henry remained calm, too. "If we carry on playing like that it will come," he said.
It needs to come quickly. Trailing Manchester United by 13 points this time next week is unthinkable for Arsenal.
- Guardian Service
