Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1 - Woodgate is Great!

By Andy Morgan
September 10 2006

A 7-0 defeat last season and a 4-0 reverse against Portsmouth in our last game may have been the concerning statistics going into this game but the Boro fans were strangely confident about getting a result at the Emirates.

The signings of Jonathan Woodgate, Robert Huth and Jason Euell had boosted the confidence of many folk on Teesside and many believed that the Boro could sneak a win.

Woodgate made his debut for his hometown club, partnering Emmanuel Pogatetz at the back after Chris Riggott's injury earlier in the week.

Jason Euell also started after his move from Charlton. He played just in front of the midfield, supporting Yakubu who was further ahead of him. This 4-4-1-1 formation Southgate believed would give Middlesbrough the flexibility of being attackingly minded whilst also being tight in the centre of the pitch.

Schwarzer, Davies, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Morrison (Parnaby 72), Euell, Boateng (c), Rochemback, Downing (Cattermole 72), Yakubu (Viduka 85), Turnbull, Johnson

THE FIRST HALF

The half started with tempo, with both sides having early forays into opposition territory.

On three minutes William Gallas whipped a ball into the Boro area and Emmanuel Pogatetz stumbled. Thankfully Mark Schwarzer was alert to the possible danger and collected coolly.

Arsenal got their first corner in the seventh minute after some intensive pressure. Robben Van Persie's ball was delivered well to Alexander Hleb who was closed down at the last minute and snatched at his shot. The Boro were caught sleeping in and this was a worrying development.

On eight Thierry Henry lofted a perfectly weighted ball towards Freddie Ljungberg. Stewart Downing defended terrifically, conceding a corner. This was wasted by the Gunners.

The first meaningful shot of the game came on eleven when Henry got it on the left and cut in on his right foot. He launched a fierce shot at Schwarzer who parried it away for a corner.

Middlesbrough's attack was being let down by the final ball at this stage and this allowed Arsenal to launch another counter. Jonathan Woodgate defended and the ball broke to Morrison at the edge of the Arsenal box in quick succession. He could not capitalise on the slow Arsenal defence, scuffing his shot after taking too long on the ball.

A foul from Rochemback on Van Persie presented a free-kick to Arsenal but the attempt was tame and Schwarzer caught it on the first bounce.

At this point Arsenal were becoming more assured and started to launch more moves at the Boro goal. An Henry/Ljungberg interchange ensued that resulted in Ljungberg launching a shot. The ball struck Andrew Davies' hand but no penalty was given. Alexander Hleb hit a shot at goal which Schwarzer managed to tip to safety.

Henry was starting to murder us down the right hand side as he had obviously seen the tapes of how we play. However that was soon to be of little concern as against the run of play, Middlesbrough took the lead.

Arsenal 0 Middlesbrough 1 (Morrison, 22 mins)

James Morrison got the ball from Andrew Davies on the outside right and played a one-two with Jason Euell as he cut inside. A pin-point ball was received by Morrison from the new signing as he entered the Arsenal box. Full of confidence he launched a shot towards the bottom left hand side of goal and beat Jens Lehmann from about twelve yards out. The Boro fans went wild as the Emirates went even more silent than it was before.

Three minutes later Eboue penetrated into the Boro box and laid the ball on to the plate for Van Persie. The Dutchman however lacked composure and ballooned the ball over the bar.

Emmanuel Pogatetz lunged into Hleb and was awarded the first yellow card of the game. From the resulting free-kick, Van Persie hit a strong shot that Schwarzer had to fist over the bar.

Woodgate showed his class on thirty when he thwarted a Van Perise shot. Hleb should have shot earlier in the move but opted to pass to the Dutchman who was denied by the Boro man.

Arsenal had some more shots after this but Woodgate and Andrew Taylor were up to it. The Boro were hanging on but composed also. It showed the effect that Woodgate was having on what had been a poor defence before his arrival.

On thirty-seven Hleb had another opportunity to shoot but decided to square the ball once more. There was no pace or accuracy on the ball and yet another Arsenal opportunity went begging.

Patient and methodical was Arsenal's ploy, almost to the point of being comatose. They were still trying to walk the ball into the net which would have been a good tactic before Jonathan Woodgate had heralded a new defensive era for the Boro. To show this, Woodgate caught up with the fast-paced Henry as he was bearing down on Schwarzer's goal and conceded a corner by booting the ball away from danger.

Cesc Fabregas launched a shot in the dying minute of the half that Schwarzer saved once more. Jonathan Woodgate headed the ball away from the ensuing corner, which was a first for a Boro defence in something like eighteen months.

And that was the final moment of a half that Arsenal dominated on possession but Boro dominated on goals.

THE SECOND HALF

Woodgate's class was to Arsenal's frustration and Van Persie lunged into a challenge on the Boro centre-back, which earned him a yellow card early in the second half.

Andrew Davies received the same treatment after a poorly mis-timed challenge on William Gallas as he ran towards the box. Van Persie took the free-kick once more but again Schwarzer was up to it.

Arsenal kept piling on the pressure in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half but nothing actually happened. At all. However there was a scare for Andrew Davies when he handled the ball and referee Rob Styles threatened to go for the red card after the young defender had been booked ten minutes earlier. Thankfully Mr Styles showed sense and only gave Davies a warning.

On sixty Van Persie won a free-kick in a central position about twenty-five yards from the Boro goal. Henry tried to take a quick free-kick and the referee pulled the play back, deciding to give Jason Euell a booking for no apparent reason. When the free-kick was taken nothing resulted from it.

But Mr Styles went one better and decided to send George Boateng off whilst he was on a stretcher after fouling Freddie Ljungberg. This was extremely harsh but Boro were now left to hold on to their lead with ten men for the remaining thirty minutes of the game.

After three, they had already failed. Boro were no longer calm and this was demonstrated by an unnecessary lunge by Stewart Downing on Emmanuel Eboue.

Thierry Henry stepped up to take the penalty and scored in the bottom left hand corner, beating Schwarzer who dived the other way.

Arsenal 1 (Henry, 67 mins) Middlesbrough 1

Arsenal scented blood and launched more attacks on the Boro goal. Andrew Davies showed composure beyond his years to thwart Thierry Henry and concede a corner. Nothing came of this either.

In response to the three substitutions Arsenal had made five minutes earlier, on seventy-two Southgate opted to bring Parnaby and Cattermole for Morrison and Downing. Fresh legs were needed if Boro were to hold on for a point in the remaining fifteen.

Arsenal were still in the ascendancy however and had it not been for Jonathan Woodgate we would have been buried out of sight by now.

But for all the plaudits thrown at Woodgate it was Andrew Davies who was really impressing, blocking Henry's shot after he had doggedly refused to let him turn.

Cue Tomasz Rosicky who launched a shot at Schwarzer that was deflected. The goalkeeper recovered to palm the ball around the post. Arsenal launched yet another poor corner.

An Henry free-kick later that didn't trouble anyone. Gallas then launched a drive towards the top left hand corner that narrowly went wide. The Boro were hanging on but there was hope we could at this stage.

INTO THE RED ZONE

Boro made their final change of the afternoon, substituting Mark Viduka for Yakubu.

A mistake in the Arsenal box almost got Cattermole in but Lehmann recovered just in time. The normal service of Arsenal attacks resumed.

Another handful of corners were conceded as it was all men to the pumps in the Boro backline. In fact Arsenal had four in the last six minutes and time and again the Boro cleared their lines. It was a transformation from the lily-livered excuse of a defence that was exhibited against Portsmouth a fortnight ago.

And with that the whistle blew. Boro hung on for a point under strenuous circumstances. We weren't great attacking wise but how Woodgate has improved the defence considerably. Everyone was organised and this was a world away from the performance against Portsmouth. The right signings were made. This is a new dawn.

SECOND HALF FAN REACTION
"As if by magic, a defence appears"
Smalltown In Europe

"Over the moon! After Pompey we needed some sort of result to get us high."
KrisG

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READING v MANCHESTER CITY - A GUARANTEED PROFIT ON THE MATCH

Just one Premier League match today and the odds are suitably in our favour. It's live on Sky and I've worked out a bet which guarantees a win on the match, whatever the result.

What we are going to do is back the draw with Betfred in the hope of cashing in the Betfred bonus of your first bet winnings matched, up to £100.

We are also going to back both teams to win so that we ensure that it is not possible to lose any money on this bet. Read on and you will find out how.

We're going to lay out a total of £154.00 on the match and we will collect £210.60 if it's a draw. If either team collects three points, we will either win £1.00 or £0.38 and gain £50 in free bets which we can cash in during the week.

Here's how it's done. Just follow these simple instructions.

1. Open accounts with Betfred and Bet365 and Stan James. This shouldn't take you any longer than ten minutes.

2. Make the following deposits into your new accounts. Deposit £39 into your new Betfred account. Deposit £50 into your new Bet365 account. Deposit £65 into your new Stan James account.

3. Now make the following bets.

Place £39 on the draw at 11/5 with Betfred.

Place £50 on Machester City to win at 21/10 with Bet365

Place £65 on Reading to win at 11/8 with Stan James

You have temporarily laid out a total of £154. I stress, temporarily... Now sit back, crack a beer open, crank up Sky TV and enjoy the match.

4. Here's what happens at the end of the game.

If it's a draw, you will collect £210.60 from Betfred, including your stake back and your bonus. This money can be withdraw immediately.

If Manchester City win, you will collect £155 from Bet365

If Reading win, you will collect £154.38 from Stan James.

Bet365 will also credit your account with a £25 free bet and you will be eligible for another £75 of free bets, should you continue to use your Bet365 account.

Stan James will also credit your account with a £25 free bet.

5. This means that the worst case scenario on the Reading v Manchester City match is no draw and you get all your money back, plus £50 in free bets.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all about this bet and we will come straight back to you.

This method of betting was used very successfully during the World Cup and you can read all about how it was done right here.

It's understandable that some people will not believe that it is possible to do this. "What's the catch?" I hear you asking. My answer to that question is that we have been publishing arbitrage bets for three seasons now and literally hundreds of people have profited from following the advice on these pages.

Just enjoy the profit and stay posted for many more of these throughout the season.