Source: SKY_Sports
Arsenal v Middlesbrough live!
Arsenal go six points behind Chelsea but Middlesbrough remain in big trouble, three points off survivial and with a poorer goal difference than the sides above them.90 + 1 The final whistle goes and Arsenal - playing well, well within themselves - have as comfortable a win as they are likely to get at the Emirates.90 + 1 Great skill by Diaby in the box as he makes space for himself by shoots wide.90 There will be two minutes of added time.89 Johnson's pass wide for Emnes drifts out of play for an Arsenal throw.87 Marvin Emnes replaces Aliadiere.86 Arshavin fouls Tuncay in midfield - free-kick to Boro.84 Another Boro attack breaks down on the edge of the Arsenal box.82 Adebayor is caught offside as he chases a through ball.81 Arshavin goes for an ambitious chip but Jones is equal to it.80 Another decent effort by Bendtner from a tight angle which Jones does well not to spill.79 Bendnter goes down on the edge of the box but no free-kick is given and Boro have possession.77 Good play by Denilson as he wins the ball back before luring Digard into committing a foul.75 Another excellent move by Arsenal leads to a shooting chance for Arshavin but he gets his shot all wrong and drags it well wide. But it was his superb vision that set up the break, he has settled into the Arsenal side effortlessly.74 Jones makes another save from Bendtner's rasping drive from an angle before Adebayor makes a mess of the rebound.73 McMahon makes way for Didier Digard.71 Nasri almmost makes it three with a powerful right-footed drive from 16 yards out which Jones does well to hold onto.70 Boro look completely deflated - they must know they have little chance of getting back into this game now and won't want their goal difference to suffer further.68 Fabregas won't get a chance for a hat-trick - he and Walcott make way for Adebayor and Diaby.67 GOAL - It's surely all over and Jones has to take the blame. Fabregas gets his second and it's an easy finish. He gets on the end of a through ball, takes the ball past the onrushing Jones and knocks the ball into an empty net.66 Emmanuel Adebayor and Abou Diaby are getting ready to come on for Arsenal.65 Fabregas goes for goal from the edge of the box but Jones gets down well to hold the shot.64 Boro look more threatening going forward in the second half and sub Johnson gets in behind the Arsenal defence this time but from a tight angle his weak effort is saved by Almunia. He really should have tried to find a team-mate there.63 Magnificent piece of skill by Arshavin to turn past his man but his final ball lets him down.61 And that is Boro's last chance - he is replaced by Adam Johnson.59 Good break by Boro. O'Neil does well on the left before Downing finds King with an excellent cross with the outside of his foot and the striker forces Almunia into a decent save low dow.57 Gibbs makes another good challenge on Downing on the Arsenal left.56 Arshavin's first-time pass looking for Bendtner is too long for the striker.55 This time Fabregas' cross is headed clear by Bates.54 Arshavin is fouled 30 yards from goal and Arsenal have a free-kick in a dangerous position.53 Walcott does superbly well on the right to win his side a free-kick despite being under pressure from three Boro players.51 At the other end, Walcott forces Jones into a decent stop with a first-time effort from 16 yards out. Again, Arsenal are given far too much space.50 Out of nowhere, Boro have a golden opportunity. Aliadiere is sent clean through on goal but his weak effort is saved by Almunia. That should have been 1-1, a bad miss for Boro.49 A succession of corners for Arsenal as they look for a second goal that would surely kill the game off.48 Bendtner burst into the box but his right-footed drive is diverted wide for a corner.47 Arsenal begin the half on the frontfoot with Fabregas having a shot deflected wide for a corner which comes to nothing.46 Johan Djourou is on for Silvestre as the visitors get the second half under way. Ben Keraro says: "Arsenal have enjoyed a large percentage in possession but really need to punish Boro with it. They need to score at least 2 goals within the first 20 minutes so that they can relax players like Fabregas who has played in every game since his return. Man United will have an extra day before they meet the Gunners on Wednesday. Besides, with only one goal down thus far Boro are going to get heart that they can turn around the game with opportunistic runs. Walcott and Arshavin need to be more direct and hopefully Bendtner is more clinical. I do not see an upset today but never say never! Arsenal win 3-0" Having had a look at the replays, Boro could have had a penalty for a handball against Bendtner while the striker was also offside and in the line of Jones when Fabregas scored - that could, and should, have been given offside. From our friends at Sky Bet : "Arsenal have looked pretty comfortable in the first half and are very short to hold on their lead. Arsenal to win 3-0 at 7/2 has proved very popular as the punters expect the Gunners to extend their lead." Match odds - 1/12 Arsenal 7/1 Draw 28/1 Boro Many emailers tipping Boro to win today with Arsenal concentrating on the game with Man Utd in midweek. That may be the case to an extent but Boro haven't tested the Gunners yet. If they make this a physical game they may have a chance, the Arsenal players may not fancy risking an innjury ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. Mark Francis says: "I would put a home win down, Arsharvin to score hat-trick against a weak Boro team ( and yes, I am a Boro fan ). We are gonna struggle against Arsenal today, and then our run in is so bad that we are pretty much thinking Championship football for next season - hopefully with a new manager." Paul Dent mails to say: "I'm a long suffering Boro Fan. I tip us to win today, and against Man U next week - and still get relegated by losing the other games. Typical." GF - doesn't look likely at this stage Paul but you never know with Boro, they've proved they can beat the big boys in the past.45 The half-time whistle goes and Arsenal are in complete control in one of the most one-side first halves you will see. Having said that, it's only 1-0 and Boro will feel they still have a chance in this one.43 First shot on taget for Boro and it almost brings them back onto level terms. Downing fires the ball low at goal but Almunia gets down and just does enough to prevent the shot from creeping into the bottom corner. Good effort.42 Tuncay finds space on the left and finds King in space on the edge of the box but the striker gifts the ball straight back to Arsenal. Really poor play by King.40 Fabregas makes what looks like a good sliding challenge on Taylor but a free-kick is awarded to Boro.39 Nasri's cross into the box is a good one and Taylor has to head behind for a corner.38 Fabregas cuts the ball back to Walcott on the edge of the box but Arshavin goes for it too and the pair get in each others way. How this is only 1-0, I have no idea!37 Samir Nasri's crossfield ball almost sets Walcott in behind the Boro defence again. This is like a training session for Arsenal.35 Toure gets involved further up the field and his through ball finds Arshavin in space inside the box but again the cutback doesn't fall for an Arsenal player.34 Bendtner is fouled in midfield and Arsenal have a free-kick.33 Almost another excellent Arsenal goal. Superb passing, this time Arshavin is the orchestrator before Walcott drags a right-footed shot just past the post.31 Downing's lapse in concentration almost costs them dear but Walcott's cross is scrambled clear.30 Downing gets free on the left but his cutback is cleared by Kolo Toure.29 Aliadiere attempts to burst forward for Boro but is eventually crowded out.28 Walcott's through ball is just too long for Bendtner.26 GOAL - A brilliant Arsenal opener. Bendtner's flick and Fabregas' pass sets Arshavin free on the left and it's Fabregas who is free on the edge of the box to stab home the pass and open the scoring. Wonderful goal.24 Fabregas goes down on the edge of the box under the challenge of O'Neill but play is waved on.23 Downing presents Marlon King with a chance to deliver a cross into the box from the left flank but his ball in is woefully overhit and the chance is wasted.21 O'Neill's cross into the box is a poor one and Almunia gathers easily.20 Great passing and movement again by Arsenal before O'Neill makes a good interception.18 Mikael Silvestre beats Jeremie Aliadiere to a high ball forward. The Boro forwards have hardly touched the ball so far.17 Boro are allowing Arsenal so much time and space on the ball - a Gunners goal looks like it's only a matter of time.15 The ball falls to Arshavin on the edge of the box but it doesn't quite sit for him and by the time he manages to get a shot away, Huth gets in to make the block. It's all Arsenal.14 Half a chance for Arsenal as they move the ball so well. Nicklas Bendnter has a shooting chance before the ball is played across goal for Denilson but David Wheater makes an excellent block.13 Brad Jones races out of his goal to prevent Walcott getting on the end of a through ball.12 Andrew Taylor's throw-in gifts possession straight back to Arsenal. Boro are really struggling to keep the ball on the rare occasions they have it.11 Fabregas is back on his feet - with the Champions League semi against Man Utd in midweek, there will a panic among Gunners fans whenever a key player goes down like that.9 Fabregas stays down after a foul from behind by Stewart Downing.8 Theo Walcott gets clear of the Boro defence - again from a Fabregas through ball - but he takes too long to get his shot away and allows Robert Huth to make an excellent sliding challenge.7 Kane McDonald mails in to say: "I think on any over day I would have them down as a home banker with the form their in, but this is the Premier League and with time running out for Boro I am tempted by the 7/1 odds to go against the form guide. I go away win Boro by 3-1"6 Kieran Gibbs does well under pressure from Gary O'Neil before being fouled by the Boro midfielder.5 Denilson gives the ball away in midfield, allowing Boro to break but they don't trouble the Arsenal defence.4 Superb through ball by Cesc Fabregas allows Andrey Arshavin to get in behind the Boro defence but his low cross is cut out by Robert Huth.3 Tony McMahon's long ball forward is gathered by Manuel Almunia.2 Tuncay almost gets in behind the Arsenal defence but Mikael Silvestre makes a good challenge of the forward.1 Arsenal get the game under way on a glorious day at the Emirates Stadium. Let me know your thoughts on the game at gareth.friel@bskyb.com. Sky Bet odds compiler Stewart Beasley says: "No Van Persie may be the good news for boro but Arshavin starts and that is not so good. The Gunners' Anfield 4-goal hero is 9/2 to net first and you would not be surprised to see him in the goals again. 5/6 over 2.5 goals does not look too bad given the midweek action! Vital game for Boro though, they are desperate for points but is the 6/1 enough to tempt?" Match odds: 4/11 Arsenal 3/1 Draw 6/1 Boro MIDDLESBROUGH: Jones, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Taylor, O'Neil, Bates, Tuncay, Downing, Aliadiere, King. SUBS: Turnbull, Hoyte, Digard, Emnes, Alves, Johnson, Grounds. ARSENAL: Almunia, Eboue, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Walcott, Denilson, Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin, Bendtner. SUBS: Fabianski, Diaby, Sagna, Vela, Song, Djourou, Adebayor. Arsenal welcome back goalkeeper Manuel Almunia from an ankle injury for today's Barclays Premier League clash with relegation-battlers Middlesbrough at Emirates Stadium. Bacary Sagna, who has been suffering with a virus, drops to the bench with Emmanuel Eboue expected to fill in at right-back, and Theo Walcott starts in the other change from the team which drew 4-4 at Liverpool. Emmanuel Adebayor is back among the substitutes following a hamstring problem, but leading scorer Robin van Persie (groin) misses out again. Boro, currently in the drop zone, have midfielder Gary O'Neil back from suspension while former Gunners striker Jeremie Aliadiere faces his old club.