Arsenal slip to first defeat

Arsenal have lost their first Premiership game of the season as they lost 2-1 to Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Sunday afternoon. Arsenal looked wasteful and did not display the attacking beauty they have been so praised for this season at all. Middlesbrough will be thankful to some shocking decisions by referee Howard Webb as they picked up a hugely important and deserved three points.

It was a very disappointing afternoon for the Gunners who slipped to the away defeat for the first time in the Premiership this year.

Arsenal were wasteful, and played long balls rather than the quick attacking short passing flow we are used to.

Gilberto and Diarra looked blunt and rather lazy in midfield, whilst the defence were resorting to hoofing the ball long in order to get the ball to Adebayor up front.

Arsenal undoubtedly miss their injured starlets such as Fabregas, but Wenger will have cause for complaint as Howard Webb gave a dodgy penalty decision against the Arsenal.

Kolo Toure’s challenge on former Gunners forward Jeremie Aliadiere earned Boro a penalty kick from referee Howard Webb in the 3rd minute. Stuart Downing stepped up to slip it home under Manuel Almunia's frame.

Middlesbrough had their fair share of chances, a goal-mouth melee saw a shot rebounding off Aliadiere straight to Almunia while Fabio Rochemback also tried a long-ranger without any success.

Boro defended in numbers and Tomas Rosicky tried to break the shackles with a long-range angular shot from right side but failed to work Ross Turnbull in the Boro goal.

Adebayor came closest to scoring when he leapt high to head downwards from a free-kick by Emmanuel Eboue in the 36th minute but the attempt missed.

An unhappy Arsene Wenger would've had a few choice words during the half-time interval.

The Gunners came out just as poorly in the second half, and Adebayor displayed worrying lack of confidence on the ball as he spurned several opportunities.

Emmanuel Eboue should've taken the opportunity to score in the 65th minute, but too spurned his opportunity to give Arsenal the equaliser.

It was all over in the 74th minute, however, as Middlesbrough went 2-0 up through Turkish striker Sanli Tuncay, who converted cleanly past Manuel Almunia in goal.

Tomas Rosicky did grab a consolation in the 90th minute for the Gunners.

Arsenal's first loss of the season on a weekend where Man Utd will be delighted with the fact they have picked up some ground in the Premiership race.