Arsenal vs Middlesbrough: 'Frustrated' Arsene Wenger bemoans lack of sharpness as Santi Cazorla absence tells

Arsene Wenger bemoaned Arsenal’s lack of sharpness on Saturday after his team drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough - but the Frenchman added he was pleased they had at least shown the cleverness not to lose.

Although Arsenal had more of the ball, Boro had the better chances in a match that ended the Gunners’ run of seven successive wins and soured the manager’s 67th birthday. However, there is an argument that is the sort of game his team may have lost last season as they blew their chance to win the title. As it is, they have been beaten once all season – on the opening day – with nine games played and were top of the league when the full-time whistle sounded.

“I have a frustrated face and that is because I am,” Wenger said afterwards. “We had a lot of the ball – maybe not enough to win the game. But we did not have enough pace or sharpness. The first 25 minutes were satisfying but in the end we couldn’t win it. At least we were intelligent enough not to lose it.”

Arsenal lacked their recent fluency and Wenger put that down in part to the absence of their Spanish play-making, string-pulling midfielder Santi Cazorla who was injured playing against Ludogrets in midweek.

“Yeah, of course you miss always Cazorla,” he said. “At home in deep midfield his pass is always quick and accurate so, yes, we missed him.” Arsenal were also without Olivier Giroud, who has not started a game this season due to injury and Wenger conceded that the height and power of the Frenchman, who looks set to play some part against Reading in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, might have given Arsenal a Plan B.

“We didn’t make enough of our set-pieces,” Wenger said. “So his size in the box, his physical presence, it could have helped, yes. But I wouldn’t like to jump on this type of excuse. We are an offensive team, we like to score, we had six offensive players on the pitch by the end. It is frustrating. But look at Manchester City against Everton last weekend. It was similar. We have to find a way to be efficient.

“We pay a little price for [playing in] the Champions League on Wednesday. But usually when we play at home in Europe this team can win. But, look, we could have lost as well.”

Aitor Karanka was delighted with his team’s disciplined performance having spent the week drilling them into a shape that would frustrate Arsenal. The Boro manager opted to give his defence added protection by playing five in midfield with Adam Clayton particularly disruptive in front of the back four.

“The performance was really good,” the Spaniard said. “If Petr Cech is the best player of Arsenal it shows we played really well. I am pleased with all of them.”

Adama Traore was particularly impressive though. The Spanish 20-year-old winger was a threat all afternoon and gave Arsenal a torrid time on the break. Karanka was particularly pleased that he listened and learnt the tactical values he and his coaching team had spent the previous seven days going over with him.

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“We worked with him all week. When he understands the game tactially – he can be a real impact player. But our plan worked, I’m really pleased. We were all 100 per cent concentrated. The players have to be really proud. They know we will have good moments and bad moments. Every single week is the same.

“I knew it would be a difficult game today. They scored six on Wednesday, they have won their last seven games. We knew we had to concentrate. One mistake and we would have been punished.”

Frustratingly for Wenger, Boro were pretty much error-free.