Arsenal were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Middlesbrough on Arsene Wenger’s 67th birthday.
Gunners fans everywhere were highly confident of an easy victory, given their current form and Middlesbrough’s lack of it. The game took everyone by surprise, however, with Petr Cech having to make some smart saves to keep Middlesbrough at bay. Mesut Ozil scored a goal that was quickly – and correctly – ruled offside in the dying minutes of the game, and Middlesbrough saw out the rest of the match to earn a deserved point.
Gunners fans were understandably disappointed, though, and had their say on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FansofArsenal2/status/789858548075290624
Arsenal believed their own hype + Xhaka stupidly got himself sent off last week made Arsenal draw today. Elneny and Coquelin in CM at home 🤒
— ⚡️ (@GK101_) October 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/mrolawalek/status/789858897121177604
How can Arsenal score six goals against Ludogorets and struggle to score against Middleborough? This is painful.
— ỌmọTọmiwa (@tomgunner14) October 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/Celticchic73/status/789859700657496064
Others rued the absence of Santi Cazorla, a man whose injury last season coincided with Arsenal’s dip in form.
Cazorla to Ozil is the most important passing link of this football club. Our season started to crumble after his injury last season.
— B (@chn_arsenal) October 22, 2016
FT 0-0. A lacklustre performance by Arsenal but Boro did defend very well. Cazorla's intricacy in midfield badly missing today. #AFCvMFC
— Jack Martin (@jackmartin27) October 22, 2016
Cazorla so important, lost any chance of the league last season when he went down
— The Custodian (@BookieCrusher23) October 22, 2016
This is such a different team when Santi Cazorla's not in the middle. Everyone else suddenly forgets how to pass the ball to one another.
— Rik Salmon (@dove_from_above) October 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/WengerTactic/status/789858015113572352
Some Arsenal fans did take positives from the game.
https://twitter.com/Blackburngeorge/status/789860989994926084
Every team is due a bad game and we didn't even lose! Off the back of 6 PL wins. I can hardly complain.
— AH (@ArsenalRealm) October 22, 2016
Ultimately, very frustrating 2 points dropped in the Title race, but not the end of the world.#Arsenal
— Carl Bovis ⚽ (@CarlBovis_AFC) October 22, 2016
Petr Cech saved Arsenal a point today, crucial saves and an immense display! Koscielny bossing it as usual!
— Feras فراس (@FerasAlD) October 22, 2016
Well we can't win them all! Still got 29 games to go let's make this our year @Arsenal #AFCvMFC 🔴⚪
— Winters (@AJT_Winters) October 22, 2016
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