Arsenal vs Middlesbrough match report: Unhappy birthday for Arsene Wenger as Petr Cech saves Gunners' blushes

Arsenal 0 Middlesbrough 0: Wenger had Cech to thanks as he held Middlesbrough at bay while Mesut Özil's late goal was ruled out for offside

Petr Cech saved Arsenal a point in the 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough (Getty)

Arsene Wenger said on Friday that all he could plead to the big man in the sky when his day of reckoning came was that he had given his best as a football manager. If God knows the first thing about the game he’ll let Wenger in alright – but he may need a bit more evidence than Saturday’s action to unroll the red carpet up to the pearly gates.

“It’s not as easy as it looks,” Wenger had said. And there was nothing easy about Arsenal’s laboured and disjointed efforts against a spirited and industrious Middlesbrough side who had the better chances to win the goalless draw.

It will be a miserable birthday evening for Wenger, 67 on Saturday, after seeing his side miss the chance to keep up the pressure on Manchester City and to take advantage of Tottenham’s dropped points. Win, lose or draw he was heading home to watch a French league game. But the mood while Lorient play Dijon in chez Wenger will be soured.

Boro well deserved their point, arguably all three with the midfield tireless and Adama Traore a constant menace with his pace and power. If the 20-year-old former Barcelona player is still with Boro come the end of January it will be a surprise. If he is they can be confident of avoiding relegation.

The first 20 minutes was like an attack vs defence training session with Arsenal popping the ball across midfield while Boro’s five midfielders and four defenders shifted from side to side.

Arsene Wenger was left unhappy on his birthday as Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw bu Middlesbrough (Getty)

Mohamed Elneny let fly from 30 yards from Alex Iowbi’s lay-off but was well wide. The effort, though, was a sign of how hard Arsenal were finding it hard to break down Boro. Mesut Özil collapsed in the box after being brushed by Ben Gibson. Mike Dean, quite rightly, was not interested.

The travelling fans broke into “Come on Boro, Come on Boro” presumably aware that their team could not sit in all afternoon without conceding. Or perhaps wondering if they’d come all this way to see such limited ambition.

Sure enough, Boro burst forward and should have taken the lead. Laurent Koscielny dawdled and Traore robbed him and bore down on goal only to allow Cech to come out and block at his feet. The rebound fell nicely for Alvaro Negredo but his shot – probably off target anyway – was saved by the retreating keeper.

From the subsequent attack George Friend was fouled on the edge of the box by a panicky Arsenal. Gaston Ramirez bent a beautiful free-kick over the wall with pace but it smacked the bar and hit the hapless Negredo on the head.

Alexis Sanchez then had a free-kick saved by Victor Valdes but it was Ramirez who should have given Boro the lead when Traore whipped in a wicked cross from the left. Negredo missed the header – shock! - but it flicked onto Ramirez at the back post. His point-black header was saved by the scrambling Cech.

Petr Cech saves from Alvaro Negredo to keep Middlesbrough at bay (Getty)

Arsenal were rocking but soon settled back into a game of keep-ball without threatening as Adam Clayton, Adam Forshaw and Marten De Roon broke up every piece of interplay down the middle. Arsenal’s best bet seemed to be down the wings and sure enough Theo Walcott found space on the edge of the area from a Sanchez pass but his shot was so badly screwed across goal it became a half-decent cross.

Arsenal began the second half brightly and almost took the lead when Valdes made a hash of an easy catch and Sanchez flicked the loose ball across goal but marginally too high for Koscielny. The Spanish keeper then reminded everyone of his talents, tipping a swerving Sanchez strike round the post.

The game, so listless in the first half, was coming to life and it was Boro’s turn to threaten when Ozil overran the ball in midfield and the flying Traore broke upfield and past Koscielny. The Spaniard’s right-footed drive was powerful and accurate but well tipped wide by Cech.

Alexis Sanchez reacts after missing a chance for Arsenal (Getty)

With half an hour to go, and the crowd growing increasingly frustrated, Arsenal needed some divine inspiration. But instead Shkodran Mustafi had a hellish moment – passing straight to Ramirez and then crudely upending him to earn a yellow card.

The goal almost came when Francis Coquelin intercepted a sloppy pass out of defence by Gibson and passed - while still on his behind - to Walcott who slipped in Sanchez. The Chilean’s shot was strangely tame though and held with ease by Valdes.

Arsenal battled in vain without creating any more clear chances as Boro dug in but, as with the first half, were dangerous on the break. With seconds left Traore broke again and fed Negredo but Koscielny timed his tackle to perfection. Özil then flicked home Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot but was well offside.

It’s just as well Wenger has no plans for retirement and a life of church-going. God knows, there is work to do at the Emirates.

Teams

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Elneny (Oxlade-Chamberlain 75), Coquelin; Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi (Lucas Perez 67); Sanchez. Subs not used: Gibbs, Gabriel, Ospina, Reine-Adelaide, Maitland-Niles.

Middlesbrough (4-5-1): Valdes; Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Forshaw, Traore, Clayton, De Roon, Ramirez (Downing 84); Negredo (Stuani 90). Subs not used: Fabio, Espinosa, Guzan, De Sart, Nugent.

Referee: Mike Dean (Merseyside)

Attendance: 59,982

Star Man: Traore