MIDDLESBROUGH v ARSENAL, Premier League, 10th Sept

By UP THE BORO MAN
September 11 2005

A big black van pulled up in The Riverside car park. He was here and he had come to save us. He made his way to the dressing room, closely followed by Emanuel Pogatetz who was sporting a new t-shirt bearing the slogan 'I *heart-sign* County Cleveland.

Schwarzer, Mr T, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Johnson, Parlour, Boateng, Rochemback, Maccarone, Yakubu
Jones, Pogatetz, Doriva, Graham, Viduka

Steve McClaren repeated the 4-5-1 formation that had brought his England side so much success during the Premiership break. At least we had Mike Riley as referee.

THE FIRST HALF

Disaster nearly struck after fifteen seconds as Ehiogu carelessly lost the ball. Reyes picked it up and forced Skippy into the first save of the day. Mr T looked on in astonishment.

Reyes was gifted another attempt on goal just a couple of minutes later and how lucky Boro were that the Spaniard didn't spot the unmarked Pires at the near post. His shot hit the post and the McPhone was ringing off it's hook already.

Somehow Boro managed to survive yet another close shave as Gareth Southgate made two consecutive tackles in dangerous situations, giving a corner away on both occasions. How much longer could we hang on?

On eleven minutes, Boro had still not woken up defensively and were very lucky to be still level. The midfield was looking eager though with Johnson happy to take on Bergkamp and Maccarone showing signs of frustration at the lack of opportunity as Boro remained on the back foot.

Boro sustained two bookings within a minute as first George Boateng and then Franck Queudrue were both carded for that old chestnut 'unsporting behaviour'.

Finally, after almost twenty minutes, Boro got the ball and managed to string a few passes together. We actually managed to get a shot in as well, Franck Queudrue finishing off a nice run with a smart pass to Maccarone whose shot was almost on target.

Another attempt followed shortly afterwards as Rochemback showed off some of the skill that we had hoped to see. Once again Maccarone was the target man and but for a piece of brilliant defending by Ashley Cole, we would have taken the lead albeit completely against the run of play.

Steve McClaren left the Director's box after thirty minutes, no doubt tired of the accusing glares coming from his employers.

His presence on the touchline had an immediate effect as Mr T went on a surging run and played in a magnificent cross straight to Yakubu whose powerful header blasted off a defender for a corner. There was hope after all.

Adam Johnson was having a very good debut and Rochemback was looking assured as the game finally found a rythym and Boro started to find their stride.

First a Rochemback corner was swept away by Reyes who made the best run of the game and almost opened the scoring single handedly. But Skippy was more than up to the task and managed to find George Boateng on the left.

George picked out Yakubu and finally, in his fifth game the big man got his first goal with a right foot curler from the centre of the penalty area.

MIDDLESBROUGH 1 ARSENAL 0 (Yakubu 40 mins)

Boro did not sit back on the lead during the rest of the first half. We went at them and could have had a second when first Maccarone and then Yakubu both went close.

Boro were in the ascendancy now and now had the best chance of a win against Arsenal for many years.

FIRST HALF FAN REACTION

"You could hear the Tottenham fans roar when Yakubu's goal went in..."
Absence_Of_Hope

"You could hear the Boro fans as well which was most extraordinary."
Dark Side of the Smog

THE SECOND HALF

Both teams were unchanged as Arsenal kicked off the second half. They didn't keep possession for long though as Adam Johnson nearly found a way in after Boro had won a very early free kick.

All three debutants were now enjoying good opening games and Boro were unrecogniseable from the team that looked so poor in the first twenty minutes.

Steve Harrison was enjoying himself running up and down the touchline but he hearly came a cropper at one point when he almost tripped over Arsene Wenger's bottom lip.

The Arsenal manager was in a major sulk as his former champions were well and truly on the back foot now.

We very nearly gave him something real to complain about when Maccarone, magnificent Maccarone yet again beat off his challengers and found Yakubu who was incredibly unlucky not to bag his second.

Lehmann had made a terrific save that handed us a corner and from it, Adam Johnson got his shot in and must have been wondering how he didn't make it a dream debut.

Wenger was so incensed now that he was actually spotted tugging at the linesman's flag as the man in black signalled Boro advantage yet again.

Just before the hour mark, Massimo Maccarone got his just rewards. The baldy Italian had been monumental for us all match, backtracking when required and constantly bamboozling the Arsenal defence.

Yakubu picked up the ball half way inside the Arsenal half and there was just no stopping Massimo as he powered forward and crashed the ball past the despairing Lehmann.

MIDDLESBROUGH 2 ARSENAL 0 (Maccarone 59 mins)

This was the Boro that we had been crying out to see. The Boro that had been missing in action against Charlton.

Emanuel Pogatetz took off his new t-shirt and breathing apparatus, donned a red shirt and took the place of Adam Johnson. Johnson had made a fine debut and it was a shame to see him leave the field.

But he'll get more chances. Many more chances, and he deserves them on the strength of this display alone.

Fabio Rochemback was causing mayhem in the midfield and Arsenal didn't really have a clue how to deal with him.

Two Arsenal players, Fabregas and Lauren were booked for fouling him within a minute and Arsene Wenger's bottom lip was now as big as the journey home to North London was going to be.

Arsenal were lethargic now and Wenger The Sulk tried to freshen things up by replacing Pires with Van Persie.

There was no negativity from Boro at all and no defensive tactics anywhere to be seen. The only disappointment that seemed remotely possible at this stage would be Boro not increasing the scoreline.

INTO THE RED ZONE

Doriva entered the proceedings in place of Massimo Maccarone. If any player has ever wiped away two years of criticism in one match, then it was Massimo today.

Viva Maccarone, Forza Maccarone - without a doubt today's man of the match.

Arsenal didn't exactly give up in the final minutes. They just simply didn't have what it took to break us down.

Boro didn't need to break into a sweat as the game drew to a close. They simply enjoyed themselves as they played out time.

Danny Graham was brought into play with just injury time remaining and Yakubu got a standing ovation as he left the field. He deserved it. They all did today. It was definitely 'magnificent.'

But never prod a wounded animal. Boro had twelve players on the pitch as Steve McClaren ran onto the field, infuriated with the defence for slacking off. Mr T let Pires through who rounded Skippy and pulled a goal back.

We hung though as Arsenal threw ten men forward in a desperate attempt to grab a very unlikely equaliser. But there was only one A-Team today and it was the one with Mr T in it...

FULL TIME FAN REACTION

"Today was a Mr Hyde performance compared with the Dr Jekyll of Charlton. Keep this up and we are in for a wonderful season."
Mike_Boro

"They had me sweating right at the end but we did it. We beat Arsenal. Who would have thought it?"
Stuart The Boro Fan

Final whistle 1911 - Report online 1915

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