The key talking points from Middlesbrough's draw at Arsenal - plus Aitor Karanka's reaction

Aitor Karanka’s side defended superbly throughout, and might well have won had Petr Cech not made four superb saves in the Arsenal goal.

What were the key talking points from the game in North London?

AITOR KARANKA’S TACTICAL TRIUMPH

Aitor Karanka’s tactics have been heavily criticised in the opening two months of the season, but the Middlesbrough head coach got things spot on this afternoon as he struck the perfect balance between defence and attack.

By bringing in Adam Clayton and switching to a 4-5-1 system rather than his usual 4-2-3-1, he ensured Boro were never overrun in the central areas and were able to crowd out Mezut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez as they attempted to thread through intricate passes.

However, the introduction of Adam Traore was an attacking master-stroke, with the winger’s searing pace causing no end of problems as he constantly looked to take on Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal.

With Gaston Ramirez also given licence to pour forward on the counter-attack, this was not an afternoon when Boro simply ‘parked the bus’. Indeed, over the course of the 90 minutes, they created more openings than their opponents.

BEN GIBSON REALLY COMES OF AGE

All of Middlesbrough’s defenders performed superbly, but it was Gibson who stood out as he successfully shackled Sanchez and Walcott.

The Boro centre-half was always in the right place at the right time, winning a series of crucial headers and blocking a succession of attempted passes into the box.

Even in the closing stages, he was here, there and everywhere, cajoling his team-mates and displaying the kind of leadership qualities that mark him out as a future Boro captain.

He is also a future England international, and if he continues to perform like this in the next few weeks, Gareth Southgate will surely be tempted to include him in his squad for next month’s matches against Scotland and Spain.

ADAM CLAYTON TAKES HIS MIDFIELD CHANCE

It has been a frustrating few weeks for Clayton after he was dropped to the bench for the draw at West Ham and also forced to sit out last weekend’s defeat to Watford.

With Grant Leadbitter approaching full fitness, there was a chance Clayton could find himself shuffled well down the pecking order, but today’s display highlighted all of the qualities that were so crucial to last season’s promotion success.

Clayton’s positional nous was apparent throughout as he stuck close to Alex Iwobi and also monitored Ozil whenever he drifted infield.

His tackling ability was evident as he made a series of important interceptions, and he almost set up a winner as he intelligently released Traore for a second-half shot that was saved by Cech.

ARE BORO SET UP TO BE BETTER AWAY?

Today’s result took Boro to the seven-point mark in the Premier League – and six of those points have come away from the Riverside. Clearly, the way Karanka is setting his side up is currently more effective away from home.

The Teessiders look potent on the counter-attack, and as today’s performance proved, they are adept at sitting deep before attempting to spring on the break.

Last season’s promotion was build on the back of a solid defence, and that solidity has not disappeared. Wherever they go this season, Boro will be a hard side to break down.

The challenge now is to transfer that resolve to the Riverside, and also add a more creative slant when opponents are looking to get as many players as possible behind the ball. Karanka has generally got the balance right on the road – will he able to adapt things to create more impetus in Boro’s home games?

MANAGER’S REACTION:

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka said: “I think we should have won the game, but before coming here, one point would have been really good.

“But more than the point, the performance of my players has been really good because to come here and play against Arsenal at the Emirates and Petr Cech has been the best Arsenal player, that says that we’ve done a really good job today.

“I’m pleased with all of them. You asked me two or three weeks ago about Adama, he was an impact player and I said one day he would start because he is a really good player, but he's young.

“He needs to learn and tactically he has to improve a lot and this week we have worked really hard with him, with the video and on the pitch so he's played a really good game but he has to keep improving.

“We knew when we signed him he could be a really important player for us because he gives us the pace that we don't (otherwise) have.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: “It was a game where you had a lot of possession, but there were tired legs and you are prone to counter-attacks. You make it difficult for yourself. We had 75 per cent possession, but could have lost the game – that is modern football.

“When you are not sharp, you lack creativity in the final third. I must say we gave everything, but we did not have the legs today.

“The energy levels were a bit down, but we were intelligent enough not to lose it. We were exposed at times, but when you cannot win, you must not lose.”

LINE-UPS:

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal; Elneny (Oxlade-Chamberlain 74), Coquelin; Walcott, Iwobi (Perez 67), Ozil; Sanchez.

Subs (not used): Ospina (gk), Gibbs, Gabriel, Reine-Adelaide, Maitland-Niles.

Middlesbrough (4-5-1): Valdes; Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Traore, de Roon, Clayton, Forshaw, Ramirez (Downing 84); Negredo (Stuani 90).

Subs (not used): Guzan (gk), Fabio, Espinosa, de Sart, Nugent.