Today’s encounter ‘s certainly not made any less scary,
By the non-appearance of the Gunners’ ‘Terrific Thierry,’
But the law of averages does, somehow, appear to me to say,
That this just might very well turn out to be the Boro’s day.

Some think that the Gunners somehow hold all the Aces,
Boro might surprise a few as they introduce new faces,
At the Riverside, this afternoon, the sky is damp and grey,
So, let’s not waste a second and ‘Bring on the cabaret.’

Our record in this fixture is anything but glowing,
And, inside a matter of seconds, the Gunners’ class was showing,
Ehiogu was ‘sleeping’ and Reyes got in a smashing drive,
But Schwarzer was quite brilliant, and very much alive.

We had played but twenty seconds when disaster almost struck,
Just a momentary lapse and we came close to being unstuck,
But our big Aussie ‘keeper showed us that he’s such a master,
To pull off a wondrous stop and save the Boro from disaster.

It’s unbelievable, so early on, that the Boro are still in it,
As Reyes should have scored a brace inside only the fifth minute,
Bergkamp simply walked through: the defending was so dire,
Then Reyes hit the left-hand post: this man really is ‘on fire.’

Pires got clean through and Southgate challenged to perfection,
When Xavier and Ugo failed to provide some real protection,
The ball deflected for a corner but the Boro got off scot-free,
The thorn in Boro’s side’s Reyes, who could easily have scored three.

Boateng then saw yellow and he could have no complaint,
Beaten for pace by Hleb he showed absolutely no restraint,
With Arsenal totally in control, real danger always beckoned,
And Boro’s cautions’ tally soared when Queudrue got the second.

Boro then produced for us a much, much better spell,
And the noise within the Riverside did suddenly start to swell,
Terrific skill from Rochemback, with a wonderful back-heel,
Then Macc was robbed by Ashley Cole, who showed us nerves of steel.

Reyes nutmegged Xavier and left the Boro man for dead,
Then picked out Dennis Bergkamp, who was running on ahead,
He put it o’er the bar but their confidence is expanding,
Apart from just their finishing, the visitors have been outstanding.

Xavier shrugged off Ashley Cole, who found it not amusing,
He played it to the far post: how the confidence is oozing!
Yakubu rose to meet it and the Boro pressure’s soaring,
We’ve not seen any goals, as yet, but this is certainly not boring.

From the corner Arsenal broke, with Robert Pires, then, by heck!
Parlour pulled him back with both his arms around his neck,
The referee never saw it: at least that much I’m assuming,
And Arsene Wenger, red with rage, was justifiably fuming

Terrific play by Reyes showed us he really is jet-heeled,
And, so far in this great duel, he’s been the best man on the field,
With the Frenchman charging forward and the red shirts streaming back,
Schwarzer made another save; but we’re now on the rack.

Then, totally against the run of play, in a manner most imperious,
Yakubu had the Boro fans all feeling quite delirious,
His first touch wasn’t a great one but he managed to retrieve it,
And the look on Arsene Wenger’s face showed that he could not believe it.

As Boro had been under the cosh and, truthfully, outgunned,
The visitors from the capital were, quite clearly, really stunned,
But we had somehow managed to withstand the Arsenal blitz,
Now this is obviously going to be a massive battle of wits.

What a terrific finish! Now, just listen to the roar!
As Yakubu with great strength showed a finish that was top-drawer,
So we end the half magnificently, and the thanks must go to Yak,
But we must beware for we’ll come under constant Gunners’ flak.

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As the teams once more emerge, it’s a case of ‘As you were,’
Now a better start from Boro is what the fans would all prefer,
Young Adam Johnson showed great skill and, had Yakubu not impeded,
The youngster’s thoughts of a dream debut might very well have succeeded.

On the edge of Boro’s area, Hleb attempts to pick out Cole,
But a terrific block by Southgate showed he’s once more in control,
Then Reyes takes on Queudrue but he stands there, big and strong,
And our one-goal lead from big Yak, we still manage to prolong.

Maccarone then turned Cygan and found Yakubu way out wide,
He flashed the ball towards the goal but his effort was denied,
Yak shook his head in disbelief but credit goes to Lehmann,
I know he comes from Germany, but could it be from Bremen?

Boateng tried a quick free kick, with things slightly overheating,
Then Flamini saw a yellow for not instantly retreating,
The Gunners sought a penalty in their very next attack,
But referee Riley waved play on and the ball was fed to Yak.

Schwarzer played a big part with a clearance that was long,
Then Yakubu brushed Cygan aside and showed he’s really strong,
The ball’s fed to Maccarone and you should hear the Boro roars,
As The Gladiator keeps his cool then milks well-earned applause.

Both teams then make changes but this game’s now won and lost,
With Arsenal slipping down to eighth, a truly massive cost!
Maccarone is now tiring but just listen to the ovation,
The feeling of the Boro fans is one of sheer admiration.

Arsenal get a free kick and had every outfield player queuing,
But it was totally wasted, so once again it’s ‘Nothing doing,’
Now that time is running out, the Gunners must choose to gamble,
In one last, desperate fling, the Boro’s ‘puzzle’ to unscramble.

A splendid save by Schwarzer was required from Frenchman Reyes,
Who, for Arsenal, has stood out among some really splendid players!
And in the second minute of added time he got his just reward,
As he sped right through the Boro wall and, with great composure, scored.

So, the Boro’s terrific afternoon now appears somewhat tainted,
But the mighty Gunners’ position is one with which they’re not acquainted,
Though it does prove a game of football can be really topsy-turvy,
Before the final whistle blew, things were really rather nervy.

After Boro’s last debacle they were really good to see,
Although I fear Arsene Wenger may not totally agree,
For the pressure on the Gunners may now very well increase,
But let us just think of Boro: Do join me soon, in Greece.