Yesterday was one of the best match-day experiences I have had. Apart from the truly excellent service and endless food in the box (thanks dad), the match itself was first class entertainment.
An injury ravaged Boro compensated for their depleted number with a performance full of guts and purpose.
With Wheater serving his one match suspension, Gary O'Neil still sidelined and Andrew Taylor and former Gunner Justin Hoyte joining the injury list, Robert Huth, Chris Riggott and Tony McMahon took over.
Riggott was unflappable and Huth gave us a towering presence and strength at the back, he also moved surprisingly well considering his lack of football in recent months but where was he when Adebayor scored?!
McMahon was a revelation, coming back to the Boro to mark his place after only fifteen minutes of Premier League football this season. Forceful and commanding, he is also pacy and helped out the still-too-slight Adam Johnson to keep possession on numerous occasions.
But once again my man of the match was Didier Digard. He wrestles the ball away from opponents and holds the ball up, his passing and general control improve with every match and he thunders forward at every opportunity.
I am now waiting in eager anticipation for him to harness all that power into an amazing goal, then there will be no stopping him.
Speaking of goals, Southgate finally found the courage to drop his £12.5 million mistake and used ex Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere as lone striker up front with Tuncay playing just behind him.
Ali tends to score against his old club and Alves simply hasn't justified his place so it was, in my eyes at least, the best possible decision. And it worked.
Tuncay fired in a fantastic cross to Aliadiere, who scored a wonder goal with a perfectly timed header.
Responding to the Arsenal fans chanting "Who are ya!" and pointing at him prior to his goal, Ali's goal celebration consisted of clutching the Boro crest on his shirt, running around like a lunatic and screaming at the top of his lungs. Love it!
Boro should have had a penalty when Gael Clichy made contact with Adam Johnson in the area but appeals were waved away leaving Boro feeling hard done by once again.
We did start to sit back and invite pressure, as we usually do, but we managed not to concede a late goal so we are certainly making progress. We aren't there yet but a draw against Arsenal is a good point especially as Boro have been struggling at home this season. There was some superb football on display and a good chunk of it came from Boro.
Yes we probably should have won it, but that was a real football match, truly entertaining!
First published on www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/fanzone - Dec 08
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