Arsenal will be looking to get back to winning ways when they head north to Teesside to face Middlesbrough on Saturday. This season Arsenal.com will be identifying the key battles for the game. We will bring you all the statistics and information a fan could need so swot up now and come Sunday you will be impressing anyone who will listen with your new-found knowledge.
Stewart Downing v Bacary Sagna
Without a goal and boasting only two assists this term, Stewart Downing is short of the form that has made him Boro’s talisman in recent years. Often revered for his pinpoint crossing accuracy, the 24-year-old has completed only six of his 64 crosses this term. Bacary Sagna has a pass completion rate of over 60 per cent, completing five of his 11 tackles to date this term.
| Stewart Downing | Bacary Sagna | |
| Appearances | 16 | 14 |
| Minutes played | 1433 | 1118 |
| Assists | 2 | 0 |
| Clearances | 7 | 19 |
| Successful crosses | 6 | 0 |
| Unsuccessful crosses | 58 | 18 |
| Successful dribbles | 6 | 3 |
| Unsuccessful dribbles | 6 | 1 |
| Complete passes | 75 | 62 |
| Incomplete passes | 61 | 30 |
| Shots off target | 18 | 3 |
| Shots on target | 12 | 3 |
| Tackles lost | 4 | 6 |
| Tackles won | 4 | 5 |
Tuncay Sanli v William Gallas
Tuncay Sanli has emerged as one of the most technically gifted deep-lying forwards in the Premier League. The Turkish international has scored four goals and registered one assist in his 11 appearances this season. William Gallas, who has a 57 per cent tackling success rate this term, could be the man in his way on Saturday . The centre half has a much better passing record than his opponent and narrowly trumps Sanli in the dribbling stakes too.
| Tuncay Sanli | William Gallas |
|
| Appearances | 11 | 12 |
| Minutes played | 964 | 1080 |
| Assists | 1 | 0 |
| Clearances | 2 | 18 |
| Successful dribbles | 2 | 2 |
| Unsuccessful dribbles | 2 | 1 |
| Goals scored | 4 | 1 |
| Complete passes | 40 | 48 |
| Incomplete passes | 31 | 17 |
| Shots off target | 7 | 4 |
| Shots on target | 11 | 4 |
| Shots on woodwork | 0 | 0 |
| Tackles lost | 5 | 3 |
| Tackles win | 5 | 4 |
Chris Riggott v Robin van Persie
David Wheater’s suspension means that Chris Riggott could be the man assigned to Robin van Persie who is expected to return to the Gunners’ front line after sitting out Wednesday’s defeat at Porto. The Dutchman has scored seven goals and hit the woodwork twice this season. Riggott has generated an 80 per cent success rate and completed 14 clearances in his eight appearances this season.
| Chris Riggot | Robin van Persie | |
| Appearances | 8 | 13 |
| minutes played | 682 | 994 |
| Assists | 0 | 3 |
| Clearances | 14 | 2 |
| Successful dribbles | 2 | 4 |
| Unsuccessful dribbles | 1 | 2 |
| Goals scored | 0 | 7 |
| Complete passes | 31 | 49 |
| Incomplete passes | 20 | 28 |
| Shots off target | 0 | 26 |
| Shots on target | 2 | 23 |
| Shots on woodwork | 0 | 2 |
| Tackles lost | 2 | 3 |
| Tackles won | 8 | 2 |
