Arsenal served notice that Middlesbrough may be in for a torrid January with a comprehensive rout of Steve McClaren's side in a dramatic first instalment of a four-part saga.
Losing twice to Arsenal in one season and conceding eight goals in the process would be enough to send most managers running for cover.
However, McClaren, who had supposedly been relishing the forthcoming three cup encounters in 18 days, has little chance of any respite now. Having lost 4-0 at home in August, Boro suffered another heavy defeat at Highbury and their only hope in the two-legged Carling Cup semi-final and FA Cup fourth round is that Arsenal may play weakened sides.
For the gulf in class between the two teams was evident as Arsenal overwhelmed a Boro side whose normally reliable defence collapsed under overwhelming pressure.
Thierry Henry kept his cool to give Arsenal the lead from the penalty spot seven minutes before half-time despite concerted attempts by Danny Mills to put him off.
Then Franck Queudrue struck a own goal in first-half injury-time as he deflected Henry's free-kick into his own net. And Boro's defence, so often their strongest element, collapsed again as Gareth Southgate presented Robert Pires with Arsenal's third goal on a plate.
With Fredrik Ljungberg striking his 50th goal for the club to make it 4-0, even Massimo Maccarone's late penalty made little difference as the Gunners moved joint top with Manchester United.
McClaren should have feared the worst from the start, having lost his previous six games as Boro boss against Arsenal, including a 4-0 setback on his managerial debut at Highbury in August 2001. This time around, his side were almost behind within two minutes as Mark Schwarzer saved expertly from both Jeremie Aliadiere and Henry.
Arsenal's movement at this point was dazzling, with Boro struggling to keep pace as they tried to stifle the home side's supply lines with a five-man midfield. Indeed, so complete was Arsenal's domination that Jens Lehmann was almost caught unaware by a stinging long-range effort by Doriva, but the Arsenal keeper just managed to react in time. Boro slowly started to haul themselves back into contention, but the chancescontinued to fall to Arsenal, with Ljungberg and Pires both going close.
Finally, their pressure told seven minutes before the break when Pires played the ball through to Vieira, who was clipped by Ugo Ehiogu as he strode into the penalty area. Mills tried his best to put Henry off his penalty, initially barring the Frenchman's path to goal before reluctantly retreating to the edge of the area.
It was no surprise, therefore, that it was in Mills' face that Henry demonstrably celebrated after keeping his calm to beat Schwarzer, with Sol Campbell also racing 30 yards to remonstrate with his England colleague.
That was by no means the end of Boro's defensive problems though. So great was the confusion over how to deal with Henry's free-kicks that a whole succession of players invited trouble by toying with the idea of standing on the goal-line. The first time, Henry struck the post as Pires just failed to get a last-gasp touch, while Queudrue then sliced an attempted clearance into his own net from the Frenchman's next dead-ball effort.
Even with Chris Riggott on for Ehiogu at the break, Boro's defensive woes continued, with even the normally reliable figure of Southgate being caught up in the mayhem. Henry's cross was more hopeful than anything else but Southgate's mis-hit clearance presented the ball straight to Pires, who made no mistake from eight yards out.
McClaren's response was a double substitution, but it did little good as Ljungberg pounced onto a lay-off from substitute Kanu after the Nigerian striker had evaded the attentions of three markers. With the result beyond doubt, Arsenal were simply toying with Boro and they relaxed enough to allow the visitors a goal of scant consolation with four minutes left. Maccarone was brought down by Lehmann as he burst onto a quick free-kick and, having shaken off the attempts of Mills to take the ball off him, the Italian fired the penalty past the Arsenal keeper.
Mills' misery was complete when Henry nutmegged him by the corner flag with consummate ease and while Henry's late free-kick was saved, Boro's torment may be far from over yet.
Barry J Whyte
