"There is a danger, not as a team but maybe outside the dressing room, of thinking that it is a game you should win and that it will be a walk over.
Arsenal Are Still 'Top Four Side' Says Southgate!
"There is a danger, not as a team but maybe outside the dressing room, of thinking that it is a game you should win and that it will be a walk over.
"They are a top side. To beat the top sides you have got to work unbelievably hard, play well and have a little bit of the rub of the green.
"They are a team I respect greatly. The manager is one of the best in the world and in recent weeks they have shown what they are capable of doing.
"Having said that, last season they came here and were unbeaten and we managed to get a win so we hope to do the same again."
2007/8 BORO 2 GUNNERS 1
MIDDLESBROUGH: Turnbull, Young, Wheater, Woodgate (Huth 73), Pogatetz, O'Neil, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing,Sanli (Johnson 90), Aliadiere (Arca 81).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Lee.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy,Eboue (Walcott 61), Diarra (Denilson 60), Silva, Rosicky,Eduardo (Bendtner 46), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Senderos.
Att: 26,428
The Gunners, who went into the game boasting their best ever start to the competition, remain just a point clear of champions Manchester United as Boro ended their 11-match winless run.
It also lifted them out of the bottom three and eased the pressure on manager Gareth Southgate.
The home side were rewarded for their incredible work rate with an early Stewart Downing penalty and a second-half strike from Tuncay Sanli.
Tomas Rosicky maintained Arsenal's record of scoring in every Premier League game this season with a stoppage-time consolation but it was more than they deserved.
2006/7 BORO 1 GUNNERS 1
MIDDLESBROUGH: Jones, Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor,Cattermole (Morrison 46), Boateng, Arca, Downing, Viduka (Christie 90), Yakubu.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Davies, Euell.
ARSENAL: Lehmann, Hoyte (Denilson 80), Toure, Senderos, Clichy,Flamini, Fabregas, Silva, Rosicky, Adebayor (Aliadiere 86), Henry.
Subs Not Used: Djourou, Almunia, Walcott.
Att: 31,122
Thierry Henry proved 10-man Arsenal's saviour again as the Gunners fought back to snatch a point at Middlesbrough.
Arsene Wenger's men looked to be heading for their first defeat in nine games when Ayegbeni Yakubu made the most of Philippe Senderos' dismissal for a professional foul on him by converting the resulting 63rd-minute penalty.
But Henry rescued the visitors 13 minutes from time when he slotted home from close-range after Emmanuel Adebayor had headed down Kolo Toure's cross.
2005/6 BORO 2 GUNNERS 1
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Xavier, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Maccarone (Doriva 79), Parlour, Boateng, Rochemback, Johnson (Pogatetz 65), Yakubu (Graham 90).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Kennedy.
ARSENAL: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Cygan, Cole, Pires (Van Persie 72), Flamini (Fabregas 60), Silva, Hleb, Bergkamp, Reyes.
Subs Not Used: Senderos, Clichy, Almunia.
Att: 28,075
Arsenal's credentials as genuine title challengers took a severe buffeting as they spluttered to a dismal defeat at Middlesbrough.
Arsene Wenger's side were punished initially for poor finishing after dominating the first half, and were then guilty of a lack of composure as Yakubu used his physical presence to telling effect.
The Nigerian scored Boro's opening goal - his first since signing from Portsmouth for £7.5million in the summer - and was heavily involved in Massimo Maccarone's clincher.
Arsenal were missing Thierry Henry after he picked up a knock on international duty in midweek.
MIDDLESBROUGH v ARSENAL - PREMIERSHIP
2007/2008 Sat 15 Mar Arsenal 1 - 1 Middlesbrough Premier League Sun 09 Dec Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Arsenal Premier League
2006/2007 Sat 03 Feb Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Arsenal Premiership
Sat 09 Sep Arsenal 1 - 1 Middlesbrough Premiership
2005/2006 Sat 14 Jan Arsenal 7 - 0 Middlesbrough Premiership
Sat 10 Sep Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Arsenal Premiership
2004/2005 Sat 09 Apr Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Arsenal Premiership
Sun 22 Aug Arsenal 5 - 3 Middlesbrough Premiership
2003/2004 Tue 03 Feb Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Arsenal League Cup
Middlesbrough won 3-1 on aggregate
Sat 24 Jan Arsenal 4 - 1 Middlesbrough F.A. Cup
Tue 20 Jan Arsenal 0 - 1 Middlesbrough League Cup
Sat 10 Jan Arsenal 4 - 1 Middlesbrough Premiership
Sun 24 Aug Middlesbrough 0 - 4 Arsenal Premiership
2002/2003 Sat 19 Apr Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Arsenal Premiership
Sat 21 Dec Arsenal 2 - 0 Middlesbrough Premiership
2001/2002 Sun 14 Apr Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Arsenal F.A. Cup
played at Old Trafford
Sat 29 Dec Arsenal 2 - 1 Middlesbrough Premiership
Sat 18 Aug Middlesbrough 0 - 4 Arsenal Premiership
2000/2001 Sat 14 Apr Arsenal 0 - 3 Middlesbrough Premiership
Sat 04 Nov Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Arsenal Premiership
1999/2000 Sun 12 Mar Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Arsenal Premiership
Tue 30 Nov Middlesbrough 2 - 2 Arsenal League Cup
after extra time, 90 minutes 2-2, Middlesbrough won 3-1 on penalties
Sat 20 Nov Arsenal 5 - 1 Middlesbrough Premiership
1998/1999 Sat 24 Apr Middlesbrough 1 - 6 Arsenal Premiership
Sun 29 Nov Arsenal 1 - 1 Middlesbrough Premiership
1997/1998 Sat 24 Jan Middlesbrough 1 - 2 Arsenal F.A. Cup
1996/1997 Wed 01 Jan Arsenal 2 - 0 Middlesbrough Premiership
Sat 21 Sep Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Arsenal Premiership
1995/1996 Sat 13 Jan Middlesbrough 2 - 3 Arsenal Premiership
Sun 20 Aug Arsenal 1 - 1 Middlesbrough Premiership
1992/1993 Tue 06 Apr Middlesbrough 1 - 0 Arsenal Premier League
Sat 19 Dec Arsenal 1 - 1 Middlesbrough Premier League