Gunners unchanged for face Boro

Arsenal were unchanged as they looked to emulate Nottingham Forest’s feat of 42 league matches unbeaten by avoiding defeat against Middlesbrough at Highbury.

Forest were undefeated in 42 consecutive First Division matches from November 20, 1977 to December 9, 1978, losing only to eventual champions Liverpool at Anfield, with Terry McDermott scoring twice.

Arsenal, meanwhile, won their final two games of the 2002-03 campaign, then went unbeaten through the whole of last season before defeating Everton last weekend to take their run to 41 matches.

While Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell and Edu were still absent, Gilberto Silva was cleared to start in central midfield despite his involvement in Brazil’s midweek friendly in Haiti.

Ray Parlour also shook off injury concerns to make his return to Highbury with Boro, but Ugo Ehiogu was sidelined, with Colin Cooper coming into the side and Franck Queudrue replaced Stuart Parnaby.