Boro are stubborn but Arsenal shouldn't find them too difficult

Written by Jon Shay on 21 October 2016. Posted in 1886 Previews

arsenal vs middlesbrough premier league match preview 2016

Match Preview: Arsenal vs Middlesbrough - Premier League - 22.10.2016

It’s getting harder and harder to remember a period during which the Arsenal have played with more verve or confidence, having now scored 32 goals and won 9 of our last 10 matches. Even the loss to Liverpool—our only loss in our last 12 matches, saw us go for three goals in a wild and woolly back-and-forth. That we’re now in the midst of a softer stretch should be no reason to relax, however. Though we’re now level on points with Man City and atop our Champions League group.

Enter Middlesbrough. The newly promoted side have gotten off to a slow start and can attribute their table-position (17^th) to the terrible starts from Prem mainstays Stoke, Swansea, and Sunderland. On the other hand, they’ve conceded just two more goals than we have and fought bravely before losing 1-2 to Tottenham. They’re keeping matches close but simply cannot find any goals. Ten clubs have conceded fewer than their eleven, but only two clubs have scored fewer than Boro have.

Despite rejoining the Prem for the first time since 2009, Boro are not entirely unfamiliar to us, as we despatched them 2-0 in the 2014-15 FA Cup fifth round. Since that time, they’ve picked up a few bits and scraps here and there—Alvaro Negredo from Man City, Victor Valdes from Man U, Calum Chambers from some club or another in London.

It has to feel like this is one on through which we can simply waltz (with thanks to Mr. Churchill), but feeling and doing are frequently two very different tasks. We all should know full-well that we’re just as likely to upend a behemoth as we are to be upended by Boro. An article this week in one of those publications that pander to pusillanimous, we were anointed as “flat-track bullies” in part because of our destruction of Ludo on Wednesday—as if goal-difference is not a factor to be considered. Be that as it may, if the boot fits, we’d do well to wear it. Despite recent splurges, Arsenal is still one of the most financially prudent clubs in the world. To be lumped in among the Bayerns, Barcelonas, and Manchester Cities of the world might therefore be a dubious honour.

Back to matters on the pitch, we’ve of course added Xhaka, Perez, Mustafi, Cech, and Elneny, and I’m pegging Perez to open his league account on Saturday. He’s bedded in well enough in two appearances, even if those were against a Championship side and a Champions League opponent who were each out of their depths. He's looked incisive and energetic, and even if he's still finding his way, he's shown enough to suggest that he can contribute.

LAST 3 meetings

Arsenal 2-0 Middlesbrough (15.02.2015—FA Cup)
Arsenal 2-0 Middlesbrough (26.04.2009—Prem)
Middlesbrough 1-1 Arsenal (13.12.2008—Prem)

FACTFILE

The two clubs first clashed on 1 August 1889, a 1-0 win to Middlesbrough in the Second Division.
Arsenal have scored at least two goals in their last five matches.
Theo Walcott has scored seven goals in his last six appearances.