Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil rescue lacklustre Arsenal at Middlesbrough
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Updated 17/04/2017 at 21:49 GMT
Premier League, The Riverside – Middlesbrough 1 (Negredo 50), Arsenal 2 (Sanchez 42, Ozil 71)
Xhaka, Sanchez and Ramsey celebrate
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Goals from Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were enough to rescue a win for Arsenal away at Middlesbrough, keeping alive the Gunners’ hopes of finishing in the top four.
Arsenal started the game 10 points adrift of fourth place, and Middlesbrough were six points away from climbing out of the relegation zone.
Arsene Wenger started the match with three at the back, giving Rob Holding a rare start. While neither side impressed in the first half, Sanchez curled in a fine free-kick past a static Brad Guzan.
In the second half, Alvaro Negredo equalised for the home side, and with 20 minutes of normal time left, Ozil won it with a low shot from close range.
With the victory, Arsenal move into sixth on goals scored, while 'Boro now look doomed in their attempts to stay up. Arsenal's post-match celebrations betrayed their relief after a difficult period.
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Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring Arsenal's second goal
Image credit: Reuters
TALKING POINT
Has Arsene Wenger tinkered too late? A drop to three at the back is hardly rocket science, but putting three central defenders helps to shore up a weak defence, and gives more bodies in the middle of the park too. It certainly helped the side to play their three best attacking players, and gave Oxlade-Chamberlain and Nacho Monreal the chance to assist in attack and defence. It wasn't a great performance, but it was far better than it has been.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough): While he ended up on the losing side, Downing was 'Boro's most threatening player, and the most dangerous player on the pitch. His deft cross into the box for Negredo created a goal, and had he seen more of the ball he could have given Arsenal's new-look defence a tougher time.
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Alvaro Negredo of Middlesbrough (front) celebrates as he scores their first goal with George Friend of Middlesbrough (3) during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Arsenal at Riverside Stadium on April 17, 2017 in Middlesbrough, England
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Middlesbrough: Guzan 6, Barragan 6, Ayala 6, Gibson 6, Fabio 7, Clayton 6, De Roon 6, Leadbitter 6, Ramirez 6, Downing 7, Negredo 7. Subs: Friend 6, Traore 6, Gestede 6.
Arsenal: Cech 6, Gabriel 6, Koscielny 5, Holding 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Ramsey 6, Xhaka 6, Monreal 6, Ozil 7, Alexis 7, Giroud 6. Subs: Bellerin 6, Coquelin 6.
KEY EVENTS
37' - RAMSEY FOUL - Ramsey should be off. He goes in late, studs-up into Clayton's shins. Because the contact isn't thuddering, no real damage is done, and he isn't even booked. Absolutely awful refereeing.
42' - GOAL! 'Boro 0-1 Arsenal. Sanchez scores - Sanchez arcs a free-kick from the middle of the pitch, 25 yards out, into the top corner to Guzan's right, the 'keeper doesn't move. A superb free-kick.
50' - GOAL! Middesbrough 1-1 Arsenal. Negredo scores - Downing breaks down the right wing, comes on to his left foot and clips an excellent ball into the box for Negredo to put it past Cech to equalise.
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Sanchez gives his shirt to a young fan
Image credit: Getty Images
61' - AYALA HEADER - Ayala meets a cross from Downing after it's headed back across goal by Friend, and it's cleared off the line after Cech falls backwards to beat it out.
63' - GUZAN SAVE - Sanchez picks out Ozil with a measured through-ball, and as he sets himself to shoot, Guzan rushes out to block the run and clear the ball.
71' - GOAL! 'Boro 1-2 Arsenal. Ozil scores - Sanchez floats a ball into the box gently, Ramsey deftly chests it into the path of Ozil, who wallops a shot low into the near corner.
KEY STAT
Middlesbrough have yet to win in 2017.
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