Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Photo / Reuters
LONDON - Leaders Arsenal suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season today when they were deservedly beaten 2-1 away by struggling Middlesbrough.
An early penalty by Stewart Downing and a shot by Turkey striker Tuncay Sanli after 73 minutes were fair reward for Boro's dominance.
Arsenal,
who grabbed an injury-time consolation through Tomas Rosicky, remain top on 37 points and one ahead of Manchester United who beat bottom club Derby County 4-1 on Sunday.
Chelsea are two points further back after beating Sunderland 2-0.
Liverpool, who also suffered their first league defeat of the season when they went down 3-1 at Reading, remain fourth on 30 but are ahead only on goal difference from Portsmouth.
Manchester City, also on 30, visit Tottenham Hotspur in one of three games being played later today.
Next Monday (NZ time) Arsenal play Chelsea and Liverpool host Manchester United.
Middlesbrough, who began the day in the relegation zone after going 11 games in all competitions without a win, started strongly and went ahead with Downing's fourth-minute penalty after Kolo Toure brought down his former teammate Jeremie Aliadiere.
Tuncay, who has struggled to make an impression at the Riverside since his free transfer arrival from Fenerbahce in June, should have doubled the lead early in the second half but slid a shot just wide. George Boateng also went close.
Tuncay, who scored his first goal of the season last week, got the second when he fired in from a tight angle after Fabio Rochemback's powerful effort was parried into his path by goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.
Arsenal maintained their record of scoring in every league game of the season when Czech midfielder Rosicky made it 2-1 in injury time but it came too late to spoil the home side's day.
"It's been so long since we won we'd forgotten what it felt like," Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate told the BBC.
"The work-rate and commitment were phenomenal but we showed some skill too which is what you have to do to beat a team like Arsenal.
"Arsenal have had a very hard week, after three away games on the bounce we thought it might be an opportunity for us and we gained some confidence from our performance at Reading.
"It was also pleasing that when we went ahead we didn't sit back, we kept trying to push forward."
- REUTERS
