Arsenal – Middlesbrough

1. Join us for all the action as Arsenal take on Middlesbrough seeking to equal Nottingham Forest's 42 match unbeaten run! Kick-off 16:05 UK time.

2. Still no Vieira or Campbell for the champions but if last week's performance at Everton was any indication then Arsenal are simply carrying on for last season's amazing performance. Avoid defeat today and they will equal the record of the longest unbeaten run in top flight football set by Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest

3. Despite adding proven fire power in the summer Middlesbrough still have a problem at the back thanks to the continued absence of Southgate and Ehiogu. Viduka is still banned so they will be looking to Hasselbaink to spoil yet another sun drenched Highbury party

4. Immortals? Not really but for a very long time strangers to Premiership defeat, Arsenal welcome back 'Romford' Ray Parlour who at least knows what it feels like to win at Highbury. Boro actually beat Arsenal last season, albiet on route to the Carling Cup final, so this isn't the formality some would have you believe

5. Arsenal get us away in perfect footballing conditions

6. 1'

   Lehmann shows he's not afraid to act as a sweeper when required and comes out to beat Hasselbaink to the ball and play a coll short pass to Lauren

7. 2'

   Raking cross field ball from Zenden puts Mendieta against Cole and it is the English defender who wins the battle with a perfectly timed crunching tackle. Great defending

8. 3'

   Opening shot of the match comes, inevitably, through Henry but his effort from 20 yards in front of goal is scuffed a little and Schwarzer makes the save look more difficult than it was

9. 5'

   Cooper hurriedly punts a 'pass' forward to Zenden on the right touch line but he can't keep it in (it's a slow start to this game)

10. 6'

    Spoke to soon. Surging break from Lauren releses Henry. He plays in Bergkamp who wriggles past two challenges but is closed down by Schwarzer. He looses the ball and Ljungberg shots on goal only to have it blocked on the line by Cooper. Rebound falls to Reyes but he fumbles the shot and it hits the post. Pinball stuff but no one could apply the finishing touch. Phew!

11. 7'

    Reyes makes another jinking run into the box but a wall of Boro men eventually block the shot

12. 8'

    Slow start but already a couple of moments of panic in the Boro box

13. 9'

    Ljungberg looks to break inside in the Boro half and a clever turn sees Cooper scyth him down. Clear foul

14. 10'

    Delivery of the dead ball from Berkamp is poor and easily cleared by the Boro defence

15. 11'

    Boro backed off and backed off from Reyes when he had the ball at his feet almost beging him to have a go. Finally the Spaniard trys a cross/shot. Either way it wasn't up to the standards he has recently set himself

16. 12'

    Arsenal corner is swung in by Reyes but very high and very long. A stunned silence envelopes Highbury

17. 13'

    Great diagonal pass from Berkamp sets Henry free down the left. Checks his run and puts over a decent enough cross but Cooper clears from just in front of his own six yard box

18. 15'

    Patient build up from Arsenal before Ljungberg gets to the by-line and centres low but once more Boro clear their lines comfortably

19. 16'

    Looping, curling free kick from deep on the left causes problems for Schwarzer as it drops from the sun's line but his concentration is unshaken as he catches

20. 17'

    Gilberto takes a sideways pass moving across his body first time outside the box and drags it wide of the left hand post with Schwarzer scrambling

21. 18'

    Begkamp sends in a difficult near post corner that Cooper only half clears to Reyes in close range. He gets onto it in a flash and shoots into the side netting from an acute angle. Very difficult chance

22. 19'

    Arsenal on top with Middlesbrough defending deep and just about containing them

23. 20'

    Schwarzer forced to work after some stylish football from Arsenal involving Cole, Henry and Reyes. First time cross from Cole connected with Reyes flying in on goal and his powerful first time effort would had been a goal had it gone either side of Schwarzer. As it was the keeper managed to push the powerful drive over the bar.

24. 22'

    More panic in the Boro box but still not breakthrough. Pin ball ricochet venetually cleared to Fabregas who pulls his scuffed shot wide

25. 23'

    Really is Arsenalo dominating the game with Job and Hasselbaink getting no service at all

26. 24'

    It's been coming for a while and, you've guessed it, Henry gives Arsenal the lead with a classy finish

27. 25'

    Pretty much route one football with a searching long ball forward from Reyes allowing Henry to show a clean pair of heels and get on to a bouncing ball. Schwarzer came flying out and once he was committed all Hery had to do was cooly lob the keeper from 18 yards. 1-0 Arsenal

28. 26'

    Arsenal lead and on the balance of play they certainly are good value for it

29. 27'

    Reyes 'makes sure' of getting a foul off Parlour with a rather flamboyant fall

30. 28'

    Best Boro have shown. Long balls over the top aimed at the willing Hasselbaink first cleared by Cygan and then smouthered by Lehmann. It's not a lot, but it's a start, perhaps...

31. 30'

    Reyes nearly plays a bizarre one-two with Reiziger but the return mis-hit just evades him on the penalty spot

32. 31'

    Very little in the way of incident in this game at the moment despite some neat passing from the home side

33. 32'

    Riggott works out a way of holding back Henry. Holding him back, but the referee is having none of it and Arsenal earn the free kick

34. 33'

    Free kick is wasted

35. 34'

    Very subdued as Arsenal continue to control the ball but labour to cut through a congested Boro half

36. 35'

    Slight encouragement for Boro as Parlour gets down the right before crossing near post for Job but his effort is forced well wide. At least the visitors got forward for once

37. 36'

    Pace of the game feels more like a practise match than an early season encounter

38. 37'

    Ljungberg just fails to pick out Henry after a purposeful run before Hasselbaink chases a lost cause at the other end for Boro to no good effect

39. 38'

    Lull in play as Reyes requires some treatment

40. 40'

    The Higbury 'Library' tag is proving itself to be at least a little accurate as the atmopshere here today is virtually dead. Though, to be fair, events on the pitch are doing nothing to raise excitement levels

41. 42'

    Henry provides a moment to savour. Free kick from 25 yards out on the left tempts the Frenchman to shoot. Curling, swerving shot goes over the wall and dips viciously. Only enough to ping off the crossbar, however. Cracking effort

42. 43'

    After showing absolutely nothing for virtually an entire half Middlesbrough are back in it thanks to some fine running from Queudrue and a blistering finish from Job

43. 44'

    Queudrue jinked past a number of challenges, riding his luck as much as Arsenal tackles, before a one-two with Hasselbaink and a stretched prod to Job puts the striker in on goal. Straight as an arrow the rising drive beats Lehmann all ends up and, unbelievably, it's all square. 1-1

44. 45'

    Final whistle goes with Arsenal forcing the game but with honours on the score-sheet even

45. 45'

    What a game football is! It has been like a training match for Arsenal, they have had all the possession and nearly all of the shots but Boro - content to sit back and break through their front two's pace - are level. I don't think it's going to finish this way though some how

46. 45'

    No changes at half-time and it is Midlesbrough who kick off

47. 46'

    Referee gets involved in the game. Blocking a forward pass from Arsenal before blowing up for a foul on Boateng by Henry

48. 47'

    Parlour has sight of goal but only for the briefest of moments. He looked to have got clear before a well timed recovering tackle perfectly executed by Toure

49. 48'

    Short corner to Zenden who then lofts over a flighted ball that Queudrue swings at and volleys above waist hight but his effort is deflected behind by an Arsenal man

50. 49'

    Blunder by Cygan lets Hasselbaink latch on to a previously harmless through ball and he smashes it home to give Boro an unlikely lead

51. 50'

    Cloes run perhaps unsighted Cygan but le flapped at the ball and it spilled through for Hasselbaink to run on to on the right hand corner of the box. Angled drive is perfectly executed and classic Hasselbaink. great finish, 2-1 Boro

52. 51'

    How will the champions react to this development. Boro have started the second half brighter than the first (not difficult to be honest) and that record may be one two many for Arsene's men with more defensive errors like that one

53. 52'

    Talking of denensive blunders.....Lehmann gets his positioning all wrong tempting Queudrue to have a pop and the lead is extended

54. 53'

    Queudrue picked up the ball out wide on the left 5-10 yards outside the box. Lehamnn anticipated the far post cross and left two thirds of his net uncovered. Quedurue's effort flys like an arrow and the German stopper can't recover in time. 3-1 Middlesbrough

55. 54'

    How will Arsenal react? Here's how. Bergkamp given the freedom of the Boro half and, from 20 yards, dead centre, powers a low daisy cutter into the bottom left hand corner. Arsenal back in it(???)

56. 55'

    The Boro defenders just backed off and backed off and what was Bergkamp to do other than accept the invitation to have a go. It would have been rude not to

57. 56'

    Game has sprung to life with Boro sensing they can get something and Arsenal stung into action

58. 57'

    Near post corner only needed the slightest of touches to put it past Lehmann but Riggott is just short and the keeper holds the ball on the second attempt

59. 58'

    First booking of the match is a little unlucky. Genuine enough attempt from Zenden as Arsenal looked to spring a break was jsut mis-timed. It was foul but a card is harsh

60. 59'

    Bergkamp levels the card count with a late clip of Parlour's heels. Again not a lot in it but after the last one the referee had dug a hole for himself

61. 60'

    Free kick level with the 18 yard line out on the left is swung over at pace by Bergkamp but the Dutchman over cooks it and the Arsenal men at the back post can't reach it

62. 61'

    Arsenal call for the cavalry. Off goes and energetic but unproductive Ljungberg and on comes Pires

63. 62'

    Bergkamp is hacked down by Boateng in the process of playing in Pires wide on the right. referee plays a decent advantage but, despite Pires getting to the byline all he can get is a corner

64. 63'

    How did it not go in?!! Cygan had a free header from the back of the box but just heads back across goal. Bergkamps cross is mis-hit, as is Gilberto's effort in front of goal. Falls to Henry six yards out - surely he can't miss as well. Yes he can. Should have been three all there

65. 64'

    Doesn't matter as it is 3-3 now. Great run through the middle from the industrious Fabregas who plays in Henry. Looks to be well marshalled but still manages to hook a low cross across the face of goal where Pires is unmarked and has the simplest of jobs slotting home to restore parity. 3-3

66. 65'

    You can't take your eyes off this one for a second!!! Reyes, looking every bit the player that Wenger broke the bank to sign, runs at the Boro defence down the left channel, cuts into the box and unleashes a thunderous, rising shot into the roff of the net to put the champions back in front. 4-3 Arsenal and my fingers are hurting

67. 67'

    No longer the Library but a temporary wall of sound as the frenetic scoring gets the Arsenal fans to their feet

68. 68'

    Mendieta goes close with a shopt across the face of goal from the right

69. 69'

    Lull in the play as Boateng needs some attention from the physio after being floored in the Arsenal half

70. 70'

    Dinked cross into the Arsenal box is flicked on well by Job but doesn't fall nicely for Hasselbaink who is quickly denied the space required to shoot

71. 72'

    Substitution for the visitors sees Reiziger, who looks to be struggling with an injury, replaced by Stuart Parnaby

72. 73'

    Reyes can count himself fortunate not to be booked after kicking the ball away in frustration long after a free kick had gone against him

73. 74'

    This game has been transformed in the second half. Looked to be heading for a routine Arsenal win before an avalanche of goals saw them go two behind and then spring back to a goal advantage.

74. 75'

    Great play from Fabregas who watched job all the way down the the Boro right before picking his moment to dispossess him and launch an Arsenal counter attack

75. 76'

    Pires makes the most of a lucky break of the ball to send over a curling far post croos to the head of Gilberto but he just fails to put it on target

76. 77'

    Substitution for Arsenal. Flamini gets a run out in the Arsenal midfield and Reyes, again putting in a fantastic performance, getting an early rest

77. 78'

    Middlesbrough follow suit with Nemeth coming on for Zenden

78. 79'

    Queudrue gets the ball caught in his feet during a Boro attack but manages to dig out a sideways pass to Boateng who tries his luck from distance. Weak effort in the end and Lehmann kneels down to collect

79. 81'

    Fabregas has been a joy to watch today - the youngster showing composure beyond his years to run the Arsenal midfield. On this occasion his incisive through ball is just to long for Henry but the idea was right

80. 82'

    Nemeth looks to get involved early and his arching left wing cross nearly falls fro Hasselbaink before Lehmann plucks it out of the air

81. 84'

    Arsenal corner comes to nothing and a break is on for Boro before a sloppy pass from Hasselbaink wastes a thre on three situation

82. 86'

    Boro showing plenty of attacking intent as the game comes to a close but little in the way of penetration as Arsenal organise at the back

83. 87'

    Lauren nearly causes problems for the home team with some sloppy, tired passing deep in the right back position but the defender does enough to redeem himself with a strong challenge on Nemeth and a huge clearance

84. 88'

    'Matador' football from Arsenal as they retain possession - each successful pass greated with a joyful 'ole'

85. 89'

    Nemeth still busy trying to create but his industry is not matched by Hasselbaink's control as he spills the pass to feet into the path of Cygan

86. 90'

    It's all so, so easy. After being scared into action by a spirited Boro comeback Arsenal wrap up the points with a slick passing move culminating in a simple finish from Henry

87. 90'

    Boro give the ball away in Arsenal's half and Bergkamp rides a challenge to get the break and move out left. Pires overlaps and the ball is weighted into his path so he doesn't have to break stride before squaring to Henry who sidefoots home. Vintage Arsenal against a tired Boro rearguard

88. 90'

    The game, and an eaqual share of 'that' record, sewn-up Arsenal play out the final minutes in comfort

89. 90'

    Ray Parlour has a belated attempt at getting in on the wonder-goal scoring act with an audacious chip from the half-way line but it drifts wide of the target

90. 90'

    Whistle goes and this extraodinary games come to a close with the score 5-3 to the Gunners

91. 90'

    What looked routine in the first-half proved to be much more than that after the break. Arsenal were cruising before Boro blitzed them with three goals, benefiting from some generous defending from the home side. A question mark placed against Arsenal's mettle was quickly removed as theyupped a gear and eventually ran out comfortable winners against a Boro side missing their two most influential defenders. Entertainign match and the Arsenal bandwagon rolls on at pace. Man-of-the match could be a

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