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| Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes
scores the decisive fourth goal as Arsenal complete their comeback
from 1-3 down to win 5-3 against Middlesbrough August 22 2004.
(Reuters) |
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
claimed to be a relieved man after watching his side sensationally come
back from behind to beat Middlesbrough and equal the top-flight record for
most games unbeaten.
Arsenal's 42-game unbeaten streak looked like coming to an end after
Steve McClaren's Boro stormed into a 3-1 lead with under 10 minutes of the
second-half played.
But displaying their full range of attacking flair, the
Gunners won the match thanks to a ferocious response after
going behind.
"We were on the ropes and it's the closest we've come to losing,"
Wenger admitted.
After taking the lead through Thierry Henry's first of the season,
sloppy defending allowed Joseph-Desire Job to draw the visitors level two minutes before half-time.
 "To come in at 1-1 we felt down," said Wenger.
And Middlesbrough capitalised on Arsenal's despondency by scoring twice in quick
succession through Franck Queudrue and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink. For the
Arsenal boss it seemed as though it would get worse.
"At 3-1 down I thought they were more likely to score a fourth."
But it was Arsenal, thanks to goals from Dennis Bergkamp, substitute
Robert Pires, Jose Antonio Reyes and another from Henry at the death that
completed the most dramatic of comebacks that Wenger could only describe
as "remarkable".
After witnessing his side's defensive short-comings and with Sol
Campbell unfit, Wenger admitted that it was possible that the club would
look to sign some defensive cover before the close of the transfer window.
But for the Frenchman his forwards' form was cause for celebration.
"It's possible we'll sign a defender but you know our forwards are like
our defenders," he quipped.
The return of skipper Patrick Vieira, who pledged his future to the
Highbury club after nearly moving to Real Madrid, and Campbell will be
vital to the Gunners' charge this season. Wenger said both are likely to
return to the first-team within a fortnight after missing the start of the
season through injury.
 With a maximum six points in the bag after the opening two
fixtures, the champions join millionaires Chelsea at the Premiership's
summit. And Wenger believes the
Blues are certainly a threat to their title ambitions.
"They look to be efficient, opposite of us. We score goals, they don't
concede too many. Defensively they have a solid base and a weapon like
that is a total luxury.
"I count them as a serious rival. You can't dismiss the fact that they
won their first two games," said Wenger of Jose Mourinho's side.
With just one point from their opening fixtures, Middlesbrough languish
in the lower reaches of the fledgling league. But McClaren was full of
praise for his side's efforts in doing more than anyone to end Arsenal's
remarkable run.
"We came here and had a go. We're bitterly disappointed to be leaving
here with nothing.
"At 3-1 we lacked the experience to see the game out. I can't fault the
players though."
Lacking defensive linchpins
Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu, McClaren watched the makeshift central
defensive pairing of 37-year-old Colin Cooper and Chris Riggott frequently
embarrassed and felt things could have been different if his full strength
defence had lined up.
"You've got to have your best players when you come to places like
Highbury. In certain areas we didn't and we conceded five," bemoaned the England assistant coach.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-08-23 09:59