Thursday, March 28, 2024

Form Focus: In-Depth Analysis Of Middlesbrough’s Season So Far

The way Arsenal are playing at the moment, there aren’t many teams out there that want to take them on, especially when they’re playing at the Emirates.

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Next up is Middlesbrough, a side who have been hit with the harsh reality of the Premier League from the off after being promoted earlier this year.

The Gunners are looking to get their eight consecutive victory in all competitions, meanwhile Aito Karanka’s side have picked up just one win in their last eight league fixtures.

It’s a massive task but the right result in London could prove to be a chance to restart and go again, but first of all let’s take a look at how they’re doing this season.

Premier League Form: DWDLLLDL

The picture doesn’t look too pretty if you’re a Boro fan, despite the heavy recruitment of some big names during the summer they still sit one place above the drop zone.

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The likes of Victor Valdes and Alvara Negredo provided hope for this side to push on and light up the top division like Watford and Leicester City have managed to do in recent seasons.

However, they’re in desperate need of something to cheer about and it needs to come soon, having bagged just seven goals in their opening eight fixtures.

On paper it looks like they’re having a nightmare, when in truth they’ve only lost one game to more than one goal deficit and that was 3-1 against Everton, a team who are on the up.

Boro’s only victory has come against the Championship-standard Sunderland, but that was back on the second match-week of the season and now the big boys from the top of the table line their fixture schedule.

Top Goalscorer: Cristhian Stuani (3)

Having joined the club in 2015, Stuani now stands as one of the clubs most important attackers, and has enjoyed a great run of form whilst playing down the right hand side.

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Nacho Monreal has looked shaky recently and Stuani will be rubbing his hands at the chance to run at defenders, something Arsenal haven’t had to deal with intensely in recent weeks.

Stuani bagged a brace in the 2-1 win over Sunderland and has already got his sights set on a more attacking role within the team, he looks and plays like a centre forward.

For that reason, he can often be a liability when the opposition goes on the attack and defensive situations aren’t his strongest point, mean Alex Iwobi will have a great chance to run free.

Most Assists: Alvaro Negredo (2)

Not many of us could believe Middlesbrough had pulled this one off, but after a failed attempt at breaking into the Manchester City team, Negredo put pen to paper in the North East.

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At 31 years of age he’s struggling to hold the attack line by himself though, and hasn’t caused too much of a problem for the Premier League’s centre backs.

However, he is turning into a bit of a goal poacher and you just know he’ll be hanging around that six yard line waiting to get something on a cross whipped in by Stewart Downing’s left boot.

This won’t be Mustafi and Koscielny’s biggest challenge on Saturday afternoon, and if they can shut him out of the game within the opening 30 minutes then Negredo often switches off.

Clean Sheets: Brad Guzan (1 in 2 games) Victor Valdes (0 in 6 games)

Plenty of experience between the pair but we’re yet to see a real run of form from either one of them, despite both joining in the summer as big name signings.

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Having played the last six fixtures in the Premier League, Valdes is expected to get the nod against Arsenal and he’ll want to try and find some of the quality he had back in his Barcelona days.

Neither one of these goalkeepers strikes fear into a strikers mind, but their experience will help in trying to shut out a side who like to roll the ball into the net.

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