Chapter 1: What was the significance of Arsenal's away win over Middlesbrough?
Arsenal have their first away win since January and the race for the top four is really hotting up. Super Sunday, Manchester United in fifth take on Burnley. That's 1.30 Liverpool in third face Crystal Palace. Tuesday night we switch our attention to the top two. Chelsea the leaders in action against Southampton. Spurs response on Wednesday night. against Crystal Palace.
They're the Manchester derby on Thursday, April 27th. So much to look forward to still in this Premier League season. And Idris Elba stars in the all-new drama Guerrilla, available right now on Sky Atlantic. All episodes, in fact, available right now. Sanchez takes it. It's an absolute beauty. But he can get his cross in towards the bread, oh!
Maxi Sanchez.
Chapter 2: How did Arsenal's performance reflect their recent struggles?
Down towards Ozil! Arsenal back in front. Arsenal needed big performances from their big players. They've got a goal from Ozil, a goal from Sanchez as well to finally end their awful run on the road. But Middlesbrough had more attempts, five on target, all of those in the second half. Exactly the same story against Burnley in their previous home game, but at least they managed a goal here.
It wasn't enough, though. 35% possession for Middlesbrough, the lowest they've had at home this season. Successful with short passes and their passing accuracy 14% better than Middlesbrough as well. Relief for Arsenal finally, who changed personnel, changed their shape as well tonight. Lauren Koscielny and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain now with Patrick Davison.
Guys, well played. You've had it tough, really tough. Against that backdrop, how big a win was it for Arsenal tonight?
It was important to have the three points tonight.
Chapter 3: What tactical changes did Arsenal implement in this match?
We were in a bad situation with a lot of defeats and tonight we needed to come back with our quality. It was not perfect, but believe on the pitch, try to help the teammates, fight the duels and play with the ball. We tried tonight and I think it's good to come back with the win. It's good for the confidence. We know the confidence will come back slowly, but it was very important to win tonight.
Alex, was it about stepping up?
Yeah, of course. What we've done previously in the last few games has not been good enough. We need to take responsibility for that and I think we've done that this week between ourselves. We knew today it didn't matter how we won, we needed to go out there and get back to the basics. and that's making sure that our commitment levels were right to play for this football club.
It's a massive honour to play for a team like Arsenal, and you've got to give it 100% week in, week out, and maybe that had been slipping the last few weeks, so that was the first thing we needed to get back to tonight, and we did that, and obviously the three points was massive.
How did you find the formation? When did you start working on it?
Obviously, it was something new for us.
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Chapter 4: How did individual performances impact Arsenal's victory?
We worked on it this week and it was a change and it was new for a lot of us. But I think we've adapted really well to it tonight, especially in the first half. I thought it worked really well for us. I think Middlesbrough came out second half and made it a lot more difficult.
They went direct at the end, but all in all, it was a new system and we've got the three points with it and that's all that matters.
Was it different for you as well, Laurent, playing in the middle of a three? I can see from the smile, yes.
Yes, of course, like Chambo said. For a lot of players, it was the first time we played with a 3-4-3 and it was very different, but we have the experience, we are intelligent. I think the first half was good.
second half it was more hard because they put pressure in front and with a long ball so it was more difficult but we are happy with the result, with the system, we play well with the ball to go out with the ball and to keep the ball so I think it's good tonight.
Alex, you mentioned commitment in your first answer. Did you do the nasty things, the tough things, better tonight?
Yeah, I think we tried to, you know, especially at the end there when, you know, they sent a lot of long balls forward and we had to just defend.
It was a proper defensive performance at the end and, you know, there was times where, you know, we got opened up a little bit, sometimes second half, but I think we all recovered in as well as we could and when balls came into the box, you know, other than obviously the goal when...
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Chapter 5: What were the key moments that defined the match against Middlesbrough?
when they got the first contact and the goal, I think the boys defended really well and that's what I said, the commitment was everything tonight and I just want to say one more thing, you know, obviously in recent weeks it's not gone well for us and to see our fans travel all the way up here, you know, on a Monday night, it means everything for us, for them to stay by us and it was only right that we could get them three points there, so, you know, we'd like to thank them.
Did you almost feel like you didn't deserve that level of support?
Look, you know, it's a massive club, and that's one thing that, as players, it's a nonce to play for. You've got so many fans behind you, but to see them come back after they've been so disappointed, as we have, to see them come all the way up here and support us through a tough time, that means everything, and we need to keep fighting for them. Well said. Well played.
Thank you. Over 2,000 Arsenal fans making the trip up to Teesside on this Easter Monday. We'll be pretty happy with what they've seen. They've managed to win a game, scathing last week. Jamie, is that improvement from Arsenal?
Listen, it wasn't a great performance from Arsenal, but I've always said, not just this stage of the season, any time of the season, it's more important to get the result. Now, Middlesbrough, unfortunately, a couple of set pieces could have dropped. I mean, we know Arsenal have had problems with that before, but a huge win. They were never going to be...
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Chapter 6: How do the analysts assess Arsenal's chances for a top-four finish?
probably at the best Arsenal run that they've been in. No matter how good a player you are, and Arsenal have got some top players, your confidence will take a heavy knock, especially the situation that Oxlade-Chamberlain is speaking about there. It wasn't just the performance last week, you remember the reaction of the supporters, especially Bellerin.
I think that's why he was taken, maybe out of the team, maybe it was one of the reasons for...
putting him on that right wing back as you think he'd be suited to that I think there was a situation with the players going on to the team coach supporters waiting for them so you couldn't expect a great performance we never saw that but a huge win and it gives them still a fighting chance for top four Did they still look like a team that was low on confidence Gary?
A little bit I think there's a lot been talked about Arsenal in the last few weeks in terms of
their vulnerability in terms of centrally in defense against long balls against physical presence but actually the football has always been the footballer passing it hasn't been as good in the last few weeks we saw the city game a couple of weeks ago where they really were building foundation blocks from the very beginning and it felt like in terms of you always think of arsenal's combinations playing the right pass the right way to pass always having people available
And not a lot's been mentioned about central midfield. I mean, obviously, everywhere's been mentioned. Ozil and Sanchez get a lot of criticism, they get a lot of attention. The centre-backs get a lot of attention, they get a lot of criticism. But actually, Arsenal's midfield... historically, have always been good players.
They get the rhythm of the game, they outpass teams, even the best teams in the league. So if Manchester City were in the league, or if United were in the league, historically, over the last 10, 12 years, Arsenal's midfield would always outpass you.
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Chapter 7: What are the implications of this win for Middlesbrough's relegation battle?
And I think that in the last
few weeks, they're not as good in central midfield, Coquelin, Elneny, Rams is better I think tonight, but generally I think that the football isn't as good at the moment as it has been, that's probably as concerning as the rest of it, but they had to win tonight, they really had to win tonight, just to make, it would have been very dark I think going into the semi-final at the weekend had they lost tonight, I think now Arsene Wenger can just sort of
relax a little bit more going into the game in terms of the press conferences aren't going to be as vicious. The comments from us tonight that are going to be played tomorrow are not going to be as vicious. He's not going to be calling them cowards. It's true. If they lose those two set pieces at the end and they lose 3-2, all of a sudden, all hell breaks loose. Arsene Wenger's got all...
types of questions to field, and it'll be a mess before the weekend. The distractions go on, the fans are protesting, yadda, yadda, yadda. And I think ultimately it just takes the pressure off before that big game at the weekend. And I think tonight you saw some players playing for a game at Wembley as well. There was a lot of effort in that game tonight from those Arsenal players.
Let's assess then Arsene Wenger's mood. He's with Patrick Davison.
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Chapter 8: How did the analysts respond to listener questions about the match?
Arsene, with the pressure on, what did you make of your team's performance?
I felt we were focused and committed and you could see that we did not fail to play with full confidence during some moments in the game, but overall... We really wanted to win and in the second half when it opened up many times we missed the final ball where we could have maybe added one or two more. They remained always dangerous on crosses and set pieces. It was a committed game.
because they played as well one of their last chances to stay in the league and they gave absolutely everything.
Two things you said before the game that you really wanted, commitment, defensive stability. Did you get both of those?
Yes, I feel overall yes. There are still some chances where maybe we could have dealt better with some long balls, but overall the commitment and the focus was there. When you're in a lack of confidence situation, you know, it comes always back slowly and only the results help.
Did you fear for your team a little bit at 1-1 and the way the game had opened up?
Yeah, because that was a testing point for us mentally. And yeah, of course, that was a moment where I felt that now we'll see where we go. Yeah. And what did you make of the reaction? It was positive, you know, and you could see the players have a good mentality and they wanted to win absolutely the game and they responded.
But when the team is psychologically not in a comfortable situation, sometimes the situation can turn the other way around.
For the first time in two decades, you went with a three at the back. What did it add? What did it take away?
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