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Middlesbrough are unbeaten in seven league games. Arsenal can go top with a win.
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00:00For the 24th 1999 at the Riverside Stadium and defending champions Arsenal, who'd scored five against Wimbledon the previous week,
00:07were up against Brian Robson's Middlesbrough, knowing a win would put them top of the Premiership above Manchester United.
00:13Borough, though, had been rock solid in recent weeks.
00:15They stood seventh in the table and had lost only one of their previous 36 home encounters.
00:21Arsenal came into the match unbeaten in 16 Premiership games, their last loss coming at Villa Park in December.
00:27Borough had Robbie Stockdale returning from suspension, Paul Gascoyne and Keith O'Neill were still injured,
00:33Gary Pallister had recovered from a knock he'd sustained in the previous match.
00:38Nicola Anelka was back in attack for the Gunners, he replaced Dennis Bergkamp.
00:43Lee Dixon returned from injury, Nelson Vivas made way for him at right back,
00:47and Steve Bold came into the side for Martin Keown, who was suspended.
00:52Your match commentator at the Riverside is Martin Tyler.
01:09David Seaman,
01:12some very senior figures there with Steve Bold in the team today.
01:17The oldest of the lot at 36.
01:21Robbie Stockdale has got his career really ahead of him, still a teenager.
01:25Quite a test for him against Overmars, though.
01:29And here's Manu Petit.
01:38Adams.
01:39Adams.
01:41Adams.
01:42Adams.
01:45Adams.
01:53Adams.
01:53Overmars.
01:56The one side to beat.
01:59Middlesbrough on this ground this season in the league was Liverpool.
02:02That was back on Boxing Day.
02:06Middlesbrough season then rather ground to a halt in the early weeks of 1999,
02:13but they've picked up very effectively over the last month or so.
02:18They do have the ambition to qualify for European football next season
02:23via the Inter Toto Cup.
02:25They've got opposition really from Aston Villa and West Ham
02:29in pursuing that particular dream.
02:32Dean Gordon, voted by the Middlesbrough supporters
02:36as their player of the season, his first at the club.
02:40A touch from Canu, Vieira.
02:44And Elka didn't get very far.
02:53And that's the sort of work that Robbie Musto does so well,
02:57just running it back, but Middlesbrough didn't build from that.
03:02Townsend intervened.
03:04Played by Steve Vickers in the end.
03:08Looking to begin with some authority.
03:10Vieira, Anelka.
03:12And down he goes.
03:14Penalty.
03:15Powered by Vickers on Anelka.
03:18Inside the third minute.
03:22The acceleration of Anelka.
03:27Fought Vickers out.
03:30Now who is going to take it?
03:32Dennis Bergkamp has been the penalty man with mixed results.
03:37It has to be said.
03:38Mark Overmars has scored once from the spot this season.
03:41And he steps up at a vital time in Arsenal's season.
03:47Overmars against Mark Schwarzer.
03:49Overmars rather scuffs it in, but in it goes.
03:52He puffs out the cheeks in relief.
03:54Middlesbrough nil, Arsenal one.
04:01Stockdale.
04:02Here's Petit.
04:04Anelka.
04:07Brought back today and making an early impact.
04:12Petit.
04:17Here's Parler.
04:21Cano who likes to just check off from the front and get the ball to fate.
04:24He's got a lovely touch.
04:26A deft feeling for those little short passes to role-place colleagues.
04:34Overmars.
04:35Anelka.
04:36Stockdale only gets it as far as Cano.
04:45Quite a good record in Middlesbrough of Arsenal.
04:50I want to keep that going and they've made an encouraging start.
04:53Here's Parler.
04:59Vieira.
05:01Stand forward by Adams.
05:04Anelka on the chase.
05:06Because this time start with the ball and the young Frenchman.
05:19it's caught from behind by Lee Dixon
05:27another sellout crowd here on T side talking of expanding the stadium
05:34beyond it's 35,000 capacity in the near future such is the demand
05:41Madison
05:45by Vieira again the crowd didn't like it the referee didn't mind
05:50Madison Petit Winterburn
05:55by Musto
06:06well Petit was under pressure and Winterburn turning
06:11as if maybe to try and protect himself from Musto
06:14he saw him coming in with that foot high
06:19Musto
06:21Dean, Musto going on again but bold reposition
06:26they're making it anxious for Asmault at the back
06:31the excellent but elderly
06:35Arsenal back line
06:38Gordon breaks to Madison
06:40Ricard, lovely turn
06:41past Tony Adams
06:43Hamilton Ricard on a weaving run
06:45and then it was the feet of David Seaman that came out
06:49and the outcome is a corner
06:50super play from Middlesbrough
06:53and the best defence in the country
06:55and many would say in European club football
06:58looking shaky then
07:02Townsend with the corner
07:03and the header
07:05from Brian Dean
07:06straight at the goalkeeper
07:09good delivery
07:11excellent leap
07:13it was two straight from Dean
07:18Winterburn
07:28Townsend
07:29prepared to allow it
07:35the pitch as well as the outstretched leg to his advantage
07:40Madison
07:42Dean
07:43now Townsend
07:53it's a weak one by Dixon
07:55certainly not on top of their game
07:57we have to credit Middlesbrough for that
08:00they look to counter attack here
08:02good work by Parler
08:03Kanu
08:03Vanelka goes to his left
08:05Kanu goes for goal
08:07if you're going to try and place it from that range
08:10you've got to be a bit more redroit than that
08:19here's Dean Gordon
08:22really has
08:24set the scene for
08:27an excellent contest here
08:28Arsenal scoring so early
08:32Middlesbrough
08:32looking to come out
08:34and impose themselves on the match
08:36and they've done that at times through midfield
08:37they've lost some Arsenal errors
08:39there's been a number of free kicks
08:41against the visiting team
08:42and the Arsenal have lost possession in their own half again
08:48Stockdale
08:48up goes the flag
09:00spin away to
09:01Winterburn
09:03Anelka
09:04pushing it well
09:11over Mars
09:12and that Anelka
09:15put that
09:16low and true
09:18but Mark Schwartz have got down well
09:29the team
09:30Dixon
09:32just hesitating
09:33but
09:34manages with the header
09:37moving well
09:38a bit short of centre-backs without
09:40Fester
09:54Maddison
09:55and he's shaking his head
09:57towards Viv Anderson I think
09:59whether that's to say whether you want to come off or not
10:01but here's Brian Dean
10:02it's a good try
10:03and it almost got David Seaman by surprise
10:06maybe a little bit of dip
10:07because
10:07rather than try and catch it
10:10Seaman
10:11did what looked initially
10:14more difficult
10:15got it up and over
10:16no it was a decent reach in the end
10:19but a very good hit by
10:21Brian Dean
10:22another reminder
10:24that
10:251-0
10:26may not be enough
10:27this time for Arsenal
10:31Pallister
10:35there's certainly no way
10:36Arsene Wenger can be relaxed here
10:38Pat Rice doing the shouting
10:39beyond him
10:40and here is Gordon
10:44Musto
10:45Pallister
10:48headed to
10:49Dean Gordon by Adams
10:52dispossessed by Vieira
10:54for Anelka
10:55great chance for Arsenal
10:56Anelka
10:57doesn't waste it
11:018 minutes to go
11:02to half time
11:04and Anelka
11:06has re-announced
11:07his season
11:09involved in
11:10both goals here
11:12brought down
11:13for the penalty
11:13for the first
11:14the second
11:15is his
11:15set up by Vieira
11:17this is a massive blow
11:19to Middlesbrough
11:21had a bit of a rough ride
11:23for Brian Robson
11:24in this first half
11:261, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
11:33Pati closed down very quickly by Mastor, and Pati apologises.
11:39Pati was dilly-dallying there.
11:44Middlesbrough have a corner.
11:54they've got the height of Dean, the height of Ricard, the presence of Gary Ballister
11:59and Vickers coming from right on the far side of the penalty
12:11it's a great try by Dean Gordon, David Seaman, who wasn't very far off his line, had to reach virtually
12:19along his line to pull off a truly spectacular save
12:26power, direction
12:30Seaman stopped it
12:39David Seaman, here's with bread and butter part of goalkeeping
12:45Ricard, it's a lovely flick, in goes Musto
12:48and it's just going to go wide of the post
12:55but it's a moment in keeping with much of what Middlesbrough have done in this first half
13:00and yet they're 2-0 down
13:03Robby Musto deciding in the end to go for goal
13:16Kanu, Anelka, Arsenal on the move again, before half time, over Mars, Kanu, 3
13:27well what a signing he is turning out to be for Arsene Wenger
13:33the manager this week has been pointing out when he's been on the pitch something usually happens
13:38it certainly happened there
13:43and once more
13:44and once more
13:45Anelka involved
13:48that's a fine piece of the tackling
13:52by Vieira they haven't had it all their own way, midfield
13:55Vieira and Petit
13:57but you wouldn't know that from the scoreline
13:59it's Middlesbrough 0, Arsenal 3
14:07they're underway for the second
14:13the senior citizens of Premier League
14:17defenders
14:19down to business again
14:20with a three goal cushion now
14:24by some eager play
14:26around the Middlesbrough penalty area
14:30Vieira
14:30and Nelka
14:31Vieira wants it back
14:32and Nelka's got other ideas
14:34then
14:34gives it to Vieira
14:38that's about a shot
14:41Winterbert
14:44now over Mars
14:45crowd a bit edgy in these
14:47opening moments
14:48at the start of the second half
14:49when he'd seen Middlesbrough
14:50go biting in
14:51the way they did for much
14:52in the first half
14:53much
14:55they did the
14:56here's
15:00Fiera
15:05Pala
15:08Pala
15:09Pala
15:09from Long Range
15:23Kinder
15:31now Pala
15:32Nelka's onside
15:33Alistair tried to put the arm up
15:35and work the offside trap
15:37Arsenal could be in again here
15:38it's Mark over Mars
15:40can he find a shot
15:41he does
15:42but he's put it wide
15:45there's no player to try and
15:46trap offside
15:47Nelka
15:48he can start his run that much deeper
15:50he's so quick
15:52over Mars
15:53decided to check back inside
15:58and made space for his shot
16:01but fired it
16:02wide of
16:03Schwartz's right hand post
16:08Petit
16:14brighter period of the afternoon
16:16weather wise
16:22Petit
16:23there goes Dean Gordon
16:26who can take the fight forward for Middlesbrough here
16:29they're 3-0 down
16:30and Ricard
16:33could have
16:34repaired some of that damage
16:38not yet played 10 minutes in the second half
16:41Dean Gordon
16:42trying to set
16:43an admirable agenda here for Middlesbrough
16:46but the danger for them
16:47as they press on
16:49is that
16:49Arsenal could pick them off
16:51for the tune of more goals
16:58Gordon
17:00and on by Brian Dean
17:02just stooping there
17:06not the better of Ricard
17:12Nelka
17:13lovely play from Arsenal
17:14Stockdale's playing Nelka onside
17:17is this going to be number 4
17:20over Mars
17:21Vieira
17:22it is number 4
17:29well Arsenal really enjoying themselves
17:34and after 5 goals on Monday
17:37they've added 4 more here
17:39at the Riverside
17:40and helping himself
17:41this time
17:42Patrick Vieira
17:49Arsenal
17:51are finding the
17:54cutting edge now
18:01very different from
18:02a long period of play
18:04after Arsenal's
18:04early opening goal
18:06and Middlesbrough
18:07looked as though they had the wherewithal
18:09to
18:09really make a match of it
18:11Dixon
18:13now it's a damage limitation exercise
18:18Arsenal
18:19pulling out
18:19all the stops
18:20Canu
18:21oh
18:22wonderful goal
18:235
18:265
18:275 for Arsenal
18:28again
18:30they are now
18:33murdering Middlesbrough
18:35look at that
18:49kinder
18:50Adams going in
18:51didn't get there
18:52it was late
18:52Dean
18:53Dean
18:55Dean did well
19:01Adams
19:02pull out
19:03free kick to Middlesbrough
19:05Gordon and Ricard
19:09looking at the angles here
19:10Mike Riley
19:11asking Arsenal collectively to retreat
19:18it's Ricard
19:19oh it's hit the post
19:20oh and it's
19:22not happening
19:24any which way
19:24for Middlesbrough today
19:25top quality free kick
19:28from Hamilton
19:28Ricard
19:30not the better of David Seaman
19:32bounced out
19:33off the post
19:33and actually
19:34struck Steve Vickers
19:35who was trying to
19:36follow
19:37it in
19:38and it stays
19:39at 0-5
19:42Diwara
19:43but he's
19:44played it
19:44loosely
19:45to Armstrong
19:51Musto
19:52turns end
19:5320 forward in red here
19:55he's trying to win the header
19:56backing up
19:57by Musto
19:58still Musto
20:01well you've got to applaud
20:03the attitude
20:04of Middlesbrough
20:06playing in
20:07difficult and distressing
20:09circumstances now
20:11but the
20:13bags of
20:13players
20:14wanting to
20:15force away
20:16through there
20:17Musto
20:17took on the
20:18responsibility
20:20quite wrap his foot
20:21round it
20:22to challenge David Seaman
20:23with the shot
20:26Armstrong
20:31oh and it's Ricard
20:32he's got the better
20:33of Adams
20:33was it a foul
20:35and Ricard
20:36having been booked
20:38now he's suggesting
20:40that
20:44Adams was
20:48going to ground
20:49too easily
20:51here's Gordon
20:53he's on the gallop
20:55but
20:55Middlesbrough
20:56need to keep
20:57enough players
20:57back
20:58to further
21:00ignominy
21:00with Arsenal's
21:01cutting edge
21:02on the counter
21:02attack
21:03no offside
21:04Winterberg
21:04and Nelka
21:05possibly handball
21:06it's not been given
21:08Schwarzer is stranded
21:09Diawara's in the centre
21:11Schwarzer's not stranded
21:12he's caught back
21:13Noblin
21:15and it's a corner
21:16definitely
21:18the assistant
21:19on the far side
21:20right to keep
21:21his flag down
21:22but Nelka leaning
21:23leaning into that
21:23with an arm
21:25taken by Ray
21:27Parler
21:28headed by Dean
21:30Dixon
21:32back into the mix
21:33and the mix
21:34got a bit slow
21:34to react
21:35then
21:35Arsenal were even
21:36slower
21:38across comes
21:39Petit
21:41Armstrong
21:41settles for the throw
21:42Arsenal can regroup
21:4413 minutes left
21:51Gordon
21:53Armstrong
21:56by Vieira
21:57must have got the ball
21:58no complaints from the
22:00Minister of Fans
22:01on that far side
22:02who had a good view
22:02of it
22:02and Arsenal
22:04able to sweep
22:05forward again
22:06here
22:07Vieira
22:07one of two options
22:08he chose
22:09Kanu
22:09he's got
22:10Winterburn
22:11with him
22:13Anelka
22:14still Anelka
22:16six
22:20and the
22:21return
22:22of Nicolas Anelka
22:24has been
22:25very much
22:25at the forefront
22:26of this extraordinary
22:27Arsenal display
22:30Kanu
22:31was weaving
22:31so too
22:32was Anelka
22:37and
22:39misery
22:40the bond
22:41misery
22:41for Middlesbrough
22:43this is Diawara
22:46he's got Anelka
22:48with him
22:48is this the hat-trick
22:50for Nicolas Anelka
22:51he's still there
22:52he's still there
22:55Steve Vickers
22:56got back
22:58he's going to avoid
22:59at least for the time being
23:02the embarrassment
23:03for Middlesbrough
23:0610 minutes to go
23:09that's not
23:10absolutely rampant
23:11too much
23:13to take
23:14for many
23:14Middlesbrough fans
23:15who are going
23:16home early
23:23that's a mistake
23:24by Anelka
23:25sold Dixon short
23:27Kinder
23:36Sammerbell
23:37Sammerbell
23:39challenge there
23:40better
23:41of Carla
23:42back at Kinder
23:44unfairly
23:44free kick
23:45to Middlesbrough
23:45Arsenal
23:46social media
23:4716
23:4716
23:4818
23:48games
23:486
23:480
23:510
23:520
23:520
23:530
23:580
23:580
23:580
23:590
23:590
23:590
23:590
24:070
24:070
24:080
24:080
24:080
24:08Arsenal
24:10Armstrong
24:11moved in decisively
24:13and the free kick
24:14here
24:16and he scores
24:17in the Premier League
24:18which will need
24:19a great deal personally
24:20after a harrowing season
24:21with injury
24:35Arsenal
24:36Arsenal
24:36are two points clear
24:38at the top of the Premier League
24:39the 6-1 win
24:41Middlesbrough
24:42the side that had lost
24:43only once at home
24:44in the league
24:44in the last 18 months
24:46well played Arsenal
24:52an astonishing scoreline
24:54it has finished
24:55Middlesbrough 1
24:56Arsenal 6
24:58The former double winners
25:00Arsenal ended the season
25:01trophy-less
25:02but didn't give up their honours
25:03without a fight
25:04finishing with these same points
25:05and a better goal difference
25:07than when they won the Premiership
25:08the previous season
25:09Nikola Anelka proved all that was hoped for
25:12on the pitch
25:12scoring 17 goals
25:14but were still transferred in the summer
25:17Middlesbrough were flirting with a place in Europe
25:19but that game seemed to knock the stuffing out of them
25:21they
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