As was evident from the faces of Arsenal players when they celebrated the win over Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium, the win was a mammoth one for the Gunners after their recent away debacles. A change in formation and squad did the trick for them and most notably, the players were more determined than ever to get the job done.
Rob Holding- Undoubtedly the most composed player in the Arsenal squad on Monday, the young centre-half looked ready for the task from the whistle and was an inspiration for the team playing above him. Only 21, he passed some beautiful through balls down the middle that was left open by Boro as they looked to exploit Arsenal’s back line from the flanks.
Starting as the left centre-back, Holding did extremely well when his Spanish teammate was caught out of position. His ability to move past players on the offensive with surprising ease made the crowd go wild every time.
His league appearances have been limited to just four this season, but with Gabriel Paulista faltering repeatedly, we expect to see the Holding-Koscielny-Mustafi trio protecting Arsenal’s goal for the remainder of the season.
Mesut Ozil- Coming back strong was the only option left for him and he did it. This performance comes just after the launch of his autobiography where the German playmaker opens up about his intense rift with his then Real Madrid boss, Jose Mourinho.
Ozil’s sophisticated gait and playing style have been a source of immense criticism at Arsenal with many complaining that the playmaker always goes missing in big games or is incapable of enduring physically domineering matches. Ozil had to clear it all and he did it brilliantly.
Boro relied hugely on physical dominance and Ozil had to be at his technical best to ply his trade amidst the hustle. His cheeky nutmegs and brilliant passing were back as he found himself in a deeper role in the midfield.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain- The “You’re not fit enough to wear this shirt anymore” chants were replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s name on the stands. Although it is yet to be found out how effective of a right-back Hector Bellerin could be, Chamberlain surely will be the first priority for Arsene Wenger.
His pace on the ball and physique made it very difficult for Gaston Ramirez to burst up at his will. He started the game with some initial slip-ups that had the manager nervous, but he was soon making blistering runs on the flanks and was terribly unfortunate not to find Oliver Giroud in the middle.
