ARSENAL GAME AGAINST MIDDLESBROUGH
Arsenal continue its impressive run with a game against Middlesbrough on Oct 22.
Arsenal and Middlesbrough last met in the fifth round of the 2015 FA Cup. Boro came into the Emirates with their tails up, having upset Manchester City at the Etihad at the previous hurdle. Of course, teams rarely come up with giant killings twice in a row, since the second team won't (or, at least, shouldn't) be caught by surprise. Pre-beard Olivier Giroud scored twice within two first-half minutes as Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners, en route to their second consecutive FA Cup title.
The clubs have not met in the league since Boro were relegated in 2008/09. The last time league meeting between the sides was at the Emirates on April 26, 2009; Cesc Fàbregas scored twice as Arsenal won 2-0. The reverse fixture at Riverside Stadium in December of 2008 was a damaging 1-1 draw, where ex-Arsenal striker Jérémie Aliadière canceled out Emmanuel Adebayor's opener. At the time, the draw left Arsenal eight points adrift of the top spot in the league and while it would prove to be the third match in an 21-match unbeaten run in the league, Arsenal drew nine of those and never climbed higher than fourth.
Arsenal have not dropped points at home to a promoted side since a 3-3 draw with Norwich City in 2012, which came in May of that season anyway. Arsenal's last loss at home to a side that had spent the previous season in the Championship was to Newcastle United, 1-0 on an Andy Carroll header, in November of 2010.
Mertesacker's arm being in an unnatural position.
The referee is Wirral-based Mike Dean, which you might recognize as a bad sign for Arsenal. Dean, of course, found himself duped by Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge last September, missing his elbow to the head of Laurent Koscielny before sending off Gabriel for a kick-out, a call which was later rescinded. Arsenal ended that 2-0 loss to Chelsea on nine men after Santi Cazorla was later sent off for a second yellow.
After that, I was surprised Arsenal saw Dean at all for the rest of the year (recall, after Anthony Taylor made a mess of that opening day fixture to Aston Villa in 2013, Arsenal did not have Taylor again for a full calendar year.) Still, Arsenal saw Dean twice more, both scoreless draws, first to Hull City in the FA Cup (in which Dean denied Arsenal two penalties) and second to Sunderland (in which Dean denied both sides a penalty.)
Middlesbrough had Mike Dean once last season, for an enormous fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on May 7. Both sides, level on points going into the final match of the season, knew that win would clinch promotion. On goal difference, a draw was enough for Boro, which is exactly what they got. At 1-1, Dean sent off Brighton goal scorer Dale Stephens for a rash challenge on Gastón Ramirez, and Boro defended well for the duration, knowing a draw was enough.
Arsenal and Middlesbrough last met in the fifth round of the 2015 FA Cup. Boro came into the Emirates with their tails up, having upset Manchester City at the Etihad at the previous hurdle. Of course, teams rarely come up with giant killings twice in a row, since the second team won't (or, at least, shouldn't) be caught by surprise. Pre-beard Olivier Giroud scored twice within two first-half minutes as Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners, en route to their second consecutive FA Cup title.
The clubs have not met in the league since Boro were relegated in 2008/09. The last time league meeting between the sides was at the Emirates on April 26, 2009; Cesc Fàbregas scored twice as Arsenal won 2-0. The reverse fixture at Riverside Stadium in December of 2008 was a damaging 1-1 draw, where ex-Arsenal striker Jérémie Aliadière canceled out Emmanuel Adebayor's opener. At the time, the draw left Arsenal eight points adrift of the top spot in the league and while it would prove to be the third match in an 21-match unbeaten run in the league, Arsenal drew nine of those and never climbed higher than fourth.
Arsenal have not dropped points at home to a promoted side since a 3-3 draw with Norwich City in 2012, which came in May of that season anyway. Arsenal's last loss at home to a side that had spent the previous season in the Championship was to Newcastle United, 1-0 on an Andy Carroll header, in November of 2010.
Mertesacker's arm being in an unnatural position.
The referee is Wirral-based Mike Dean, which you might recognize as a bad sign for Arsenal. Dean, of course, found himself duped by Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge last September, missing his elbow to the head of Laurent Koscielny before sending off Gabriel for a kick-out, a call which was later rescinded. Arsenal ended that 2-0 loss to Chelsea on nine men after Santi Cazorla was later sent off for a second yellow.
After that, I was surprised Arsenal saw Dean at all for the rest of the year (recall, after Anthony Taylor made a mess of that opening day fixture to Aston Villa in 2013, Arsenal did not have Taylor again for a full calendar year.) Still, Arsenal saw Dean twice more, both scoreless draws, first to Hull City in the FA Cup (in which Dean denied Arsenal two penalties) and second to Sunderland (in which Dean denied both sides a penalty.)
Middlesbrough had Mike Dean once last season, for an enormous fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on May 7. Both sides, level on points going into the final match of the season, knew that win would clinch promotion. On goal difference, a draw was enough for Boro, which is exactly what they got. At 1-1, Dean sent off Brighton goal scorer Dale Stephens for a rash challenge on Gastón Ramirez, and Boro defended well for the duration, knowing a draw was enough.
Omooo this game is a must watch!!!!
Predicted XI: Čech, Bellerín, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Iwobi, Walcott, Özil, Alexis.
Predicted XI: Valdés, Barragán, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Forshaw, de Roon, Traoré, Ramírez,
Downing, Negredo.
OBOIIII
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