Arsenal drew 0-0 at home to Middlesbrough.
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager David Pleat in the stands
Former player and current pundit David Pleat felt Arsenal weren’t penetrating enough as they struggled to break down a solid Middlesbrough side in the 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium, the BBC report.
The Gunners headed in to the clash with Boro as the form team in the Premier League, winning their previous six league games in succession while also going strong in the Champions League.
The likes of Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and in particular Mesut Ozil have been outstanding this season, yet the talented trio couldn’t get the best of Boro in a frustrating home performance.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Co-commentating for the BBC, Pleat felt that Arsenal weren’t threatening enough in wide areas and lamented their inability to take risks and really drive at the visitors, instead opting for the safer option.
“When Arsenal get it wide, rather than go to the byline, they play it back inside and start the attack again. They are probing rather than penetrating,” the former Tottenham Hotspur man explained.
Arsenal seemingly played against Boro with the handbrake on from the start, and it wasn’t until the final passages of play that they really tested the visitors and got in behind them.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger was celebrating his 67th birthday and would have wanted to toast to another victory, yet in truth he could count himself somewhat fortunate to come away with a point.
The Teesside outfit were excellent on the counterattack and had it not been for Petr Cech and the woodwork coming to Arsenal’s rescue, it could have been much worse for the hosts.
General view outside the stadium before the game – Arsenal
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