Arsenal vs Middlesbrough
Match pulse
ARSAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Arsenal 5-3
Arsenal beat Middlesbrough 5-3 on Sunday, August 22, 2004 at Highbury. Goals for Arsenal: Thierry Henry (25', 90'+1'), Dennis Bergkamp (54'), Robert Pires (65') and José Antonio Reyes (65'). Goals for Boro: Joseph Desire Job (43'), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (50') and Franck Queudrue (53').
Play by play
- 90'
What looked routine in the first-half proved to be much more than that after the break. Arsenal were cruising before Boro blitzed them with three goals, benefiting from some generous defending from the home side. A question mark placed against Arsenal's mettle was quickly removed as theyupped a gear and eventually ran out comfortable winners against a Boro side missing their two most influential defenders. Entertainign match and the Arsenal bandwagon rolls on at pace. Man-of-the match could be a
- 90'
Whistle goes and this extraodinary games come to a close with the score 5-3 to the Gunners
- 90'
Ray Parlour has a belated attempt at getting in on the wonder-goal scoring act with an audacious chip from the half-way line but it drifts wide of the target
- 90'
The game, and an eaqual share of 'that' record, sewn-up Arsenal play out the final minutes in comfort
- 90'
Boro give the ball away in Arsenal's half and Bergkamp rides a challenge to get the break and move out left. Pires overlaps and the ball is weighted into his path so he doesn't have to break stride before squaring to Henry who sidefoots home. Vintage Arsenal against a tired Boro rearguard
- 90'
It's all so, so easy. After being scared into action by a spirited Boro comeback Arsenal wrap up the points with a slick passing move culminating in a simple finish from Henry
- 89'
Nemeth still busy trying to create but his industry is not matched by Hasselbaink's control as he spills the pass to feet into the path of Cygan
- 88'
'Matador' football from Arsenal as they retain possession - each successful pass greated with a joyful 'ole'
- 87'
Lauren nearly causes problems for the home team with some sloppy, tired passing deep in the right back position but the defender does enough to redeem himself with a strong challenge on Nemeth and a huge clearance
- 86'
Boro showing plenty of attacking intent as the game comes to a close but little in the way of penetration as Arsenal organise at the back
- 84'
Arsenal corner comes to nothing and a break is on for Boro before a sloppy pass from Hasselbaink wastes a thre on three situation
- 82'
Nemeth looks to get involved early and his arching left wing cross nearly falls fro Hasselbaink before Lehmann plucks it out of the air
- 81'
Fabregas has been a joy to watch today - the youngster showing composure beyond his years to run the Arsenal midfield. On this occasion his incisive through ball is just to long for Henry but the idea was right
- 79'
Queudrue gets the ball caught in his feet during a Boro attack but manages to dig out a sideways pass to Boateng who tries his luck from distance. Weak effort in the end and Lehmann kneels down to collect
- 78'
Middlesbrough follow suit with Nemeth coming on for Zenden
- 77'
Substitution for Arsenal. Flamini gets a run out in the Arsenal midfield and Reyes, again putting in a fantastic performance, getting an early rest
- 76'
Pires makes the most of a lucky break of the ball to send over a curling far post croos to the head of Gilberto but he just fails to put it on target
- 75'
Great play from Fabregas who watched job all the way down the the Boro right before picking his moment to dispossess him and launch an Arsenal counter attack
- 74'
This game has been transformed in the second half. Looked to be heading for a routine Arsenal win before an avalanche of goals saw them go two behind and then spring back to a goal advantage.
- 73'
Reyes can count himself fortunate not to be booked after kicking the ball away in frustration long after a free kick had gone against him
- 72'
Substitution for the visitors sees Reiziger, who looks to be struggling with an injury, replaced by Stuart Parnaby
- 70'
Dinked cross into the Arsenal box is flicked on well by Job but doesn't fall nicely for Hasselbaink who is quickly denied the space required to shoot
- 69'
Lull in the play as Boateng needs some attention from the physio after being floored in the Arsenal half
- 68'
Mendieta goes close with a shopt across the face of goal from the right
- 67'
No longer the Library but a temporary wall of sound as the frenetic scoring gets the Arsenal fans to their feet
Leaders
ARSMID 
