The Arsenal let two points slip away in a goalless draw against Middlesbrough

Arsenal missed a golden opportunity on Saturday as they failed to score in a 0-0 draw at home against Middlesbrough. The match showcased the impressive skills of both goalkeepers, Petr Cech and Víctor Valdés.

The Gunners were unable to secure their eighth consecutive victory and settled for a single point against newly promoted Boro. This result puts them at the top of the table until the matches between Liverpool and West Brom and Manchester City and Southampton are played.

The absence of Santi Cazorla, the playmaker for Arsenal, was sorely felt in the team. He was unable to recover in time from an injury suffered during Wednesday's match against Ludogorets.

Just three days after their Champions League victory over the Bulgarian team (6-0), the Londoners faced a Boro side that desperately needed a positive result at Emirates Stadium.

Karanka's team, despite a promising start to the season, has now dropped to the lower part of the table after seven consecutive winless matches - six in the Premier League and one in the League Cup.

Arsene Wenger made few changes to the lineup from Wednesday's match. Petr Cech replaced David Ospina in goal, Nacho Monreal filled in for Kieran Gibbs, Mohamed Elneny substituted the injured Santi Cazorla, and Alex Iwobi took the place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Alexis Sánchez, supported by Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott, who is in top form for the Gunners, once again led the attack.

The home team understood the importance of securing all three points, especially after learning that Tottenham had dropped two points in their match against Bournemouth (0-0). Arsenal attacked from the start of the match.

They controlled the ball in the opponent's half, but Boro's strong defense prevented any dangerous attempts. In the tenth minute, Elneny unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box that narrowly missed the target.

Despite Arsenal's dominance, it was the visitors who had the first real chance. Ayala played a long ball that Negredo flicked on, and Adama Traoré, with his incredible speed, outran Koscielny and had a one-on-one opportunity against Cech. However, Cech made a great double save to deny him.

Soon after, Gastón Ramírez scared the home crowd with a free kick that hit the crossbar with Cech beaten.

The Gunners did not back down and immediately responded with a free kick from Alexis at the edge of the penalty area. Valdés made a spectacular save, pushing the ball out for a corner.

In the 30th minute, Cech once again came to Arsenal's rescue when he brilliantly stopped a close-range shot from Gastón in the small box.

Both teams were pushing for a goal, but neither could break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes. The match showcased the skills of both goalkeepers.

Arsenal improved in the second half, with Alexis leading the attack. In the 54th minute, the Chilean unleashed a powerful shot from 30 meters out that Valdés saved with a flying dive.

Meanwhile, Karanka's team defended deep and waited for a chance to capitalize on Negredo's physicality and Adama's lightning-fast pace. In the 58th minute, Adama wasted a clear chance, finding himself alone against Cech.

Shortly after, Wenger substituted Lucas Pérez into the game. The Spanish player, who provided two assists on Wednesday against Ludogorets, improved Arsenal's performance.

The visitors focused on withstanding Arsenal's attacks, relying on Valdés and the solid defensive duo of Ayala and Gibson in the center. They occasionally looked for opportunities to counter-attack with Adama.

Despite the countless long balls and crosses, Arsenal had to settle for a single point. In the 93rd minute, Özil scored a goal that was disallowed for offside by the assistant referee. This result temporarily puts Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.