We’re in the north of London and we need a bit of sparkle,
After Boro lost to Pompey in the Riverside debacle,
Plus the previous season’s nightmare when the Gunners netted seven,
So a single point today would be almost total heaven.

Today the referee is none other than Rob Styles,
A choice that, I’d imagine, has raised a few wry smiles,
For ‘twas he who had control of that awful seven – nil caning,
But I presume that the Gunners’ fans will not be complaining.

It’s said that not a single seat today remains unsold,
Fans ready for to savour and watch the drama now unfold,
With baited breath and highest hopes, each eagerly awaits,
This duel in the sun inside the brand new Emirates.

The pressure from the Gunners was immediately so intense,
And Schwarzer’s contribution was so vital: quite immense,
Some world-class saves he pulled off, from the very opening minute,
It was, no doubt, his expertise that kept the Boro in it.

Boro’s new men – Jonathan Woodgate and his colleague Jason Euell,
Together with all the others, maintained quite amazing cool,
The Boro’s tremendous skill saw the Gunners quite outgunned,
And the Emirates fell silent: the home crowd totally stunned.

Young Morrison it was, who quickly got things under way,
Showing skill beyond his years he certainly made the Arsenal pay,
Their new man, William Gallas, was no doubt feeling embittered,
For our very young James Morrison had him totally outwitted.

A lightning-quick one-two with new colleague, Jason Euell,
Brought joy to travelling Boro fans, who then began to drool,
With the speed of light and deftness of any highwayman,
Young James stole a ‘jewel’ from the German, Jens Lehmann.

It was a shot that had the ‘keeper down upon his knees,
And brought smiles to Boro faces, as wide as the River Tees,
But we couldn’t just sit back and begin to scoff and titter,
When the Gunners’ young Van Persie scorned a chance & missed a sitter.

As expected, it was Arsenal who sharpened up their knives,
Leaving Boro mighty problems but they defended with their lives,
Each and every man displayed most dogged determination,
Ensuring that, this time, there would be no abdication.

Woodgate was still proving to be a monumental rock,
But, could it still all end with another massive shock?
For, whilst Arsenal may be down, they are certainly not out,
Don’t go away for one moment: do be sure to hang about.

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We must remain switched on until the final whistle blows,
Ensure we don’t collapse just like a pack of dominoes,
We were under Gunners’ cosh and soaking up the pressure,
Until Boateng was red-carded then we were really in the thresher.

It seemed a wee bit harsh when the ref. took out his pen,
But a second yellow card now meant that we were down to ten,
Then, as we’d half-expected, there came a vigorous kerfuffle,
And Arsenal equalised before the Boro could reshuffle.

Emmanual Eboue was brought down by Stewart Downing,
This brought the Gunners hope and it had the Boro frowning,
With Schwarzer on his line, up stepped the great Thierry,
Who slotted home and turned, like the chirpiest canary.

Defending now like demons, Boro players, to a man,
Held out until the finish, to frustrate the Gunners’ plan,
For, try as they might, Arsenal couldn’t tip the scales,
As Boro fans, collectively, bit on their fingernails.

So, Boro were rewarded for their effort and their toils,
With heads held high they finished, with a half share of the spoils,
What a great debut for Woodgate, but to be much more specific,
The Boro men were giants: quite amazing: most terrific.

Especially at the end with four minutes’ added time,
Without question they were heroes: Schwarz & Woodgate quite sublime,
The latter got ‘The Best’ award, that much I now reveal,
For that little extra ‘something’ – genuine, homemade Teesside steel.