What was clear in the performance today was that by no means did Boro look like, or deserve to get anything from the game given the teams perfomance. Arsenal were able to play the fast, flowing football they are so good at thanks to the space that was allowed to them by Middlesbrough. This was not akin to many recent Boro perfomances against Arsenal where we have managed to push them, and often squeeze results out of the game.

With only four games remaining for the Boro to save themselves this season, and while we remain three points adrift the emphasis shifts even further onto us getting results thick and fast at the end of the season, and come into a run of form we have failed to maintain throughout the season, ideally against Manchester United at home next Saturday. As far as I'm concerned we should cast aside any thoughts of playing a tight game and play Aliadiere, King, Alves and Tuncay all in the starting eleven. While Alves has failed to perform all season, he remains the type of player that could get an eye for goal that might just see us through a few games. Hope is pretty faint, but nevertheless we remain in the mix, and you never know what can happen with the Boro.

It would be nice to see them play with the same passion we had against Basle and Steaua Bucharest - and we really need that fighting spirit now more than ever.

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