STEVE AGNEW believes an extra couple of days on the training ground could be exactly what his players need as he looks to ensure Middlesbrough capitalise on Arsenal’s problems.

The Gunners have only won one of their last five Premier League matches and Monday night’s defeat at Crystal Palace has increased the chances of them missing out on a Champions league spot.

There are growing calls for Arsene Wenger to end more than two decades in charge of the North London club as they prepare to travel to the North-East to take on Middlesbrough on Easter Monday.

Agnew can’t concern himself too much with what Wenger is having to deal with at this stage of the season, knowing he faces an even greater challenge to try to keep Boro in the Premier League.

A failure to beat Burnley last weekend means Middlesbrough are six points adrift of safety with seven matches remaining, although they do have a game in hand over Hull City.

That situation will have changed – for better or worse – by the time Middlesbrough take on Arsenal at the Riverside on Easter Monday night.

Agnew is hoping having no match before that will enable him and his players to gain an even greater understanding of what he is demanding from them on the field of play.

“We've had three games in six days and the players have taken a lot of information on board from me,” said Agnew.

“They have a chance to reflect on what we've done and how we've done it, how we've done it, what we need to continue to work on.

“So I'm encouraged by lots of things I saw against Burnley and obviously the more work we get, the more preparation we have, will set us up nicely for the Arsenal game.”

Middlesbrough looked more positive in the second half against the Clarets and could have won it. Matt Lowton cleared a couple of chances off the line in the closing stages, while Michael Keane could also have been sent off.

Despite the improvements there was still a lack of goals. It was the seventh time this season they have recorded a goalless draw, while they still have the worst goalscoring record in the top-flight.

Defensively they still boast a strong record and that could be crucial come the end of the season if they finish level on points with the side sitting fourth from bottom because they do have a superior goal difference to the teams around them.

For that to continue in the remaining month of the season Agnew is banking on some of his injured defenders making a return to the side.

Fabio da Silva will be available again after missing the last two matches with concussion. Agnew also hopes to have George Friend and Gaston Ramirez available, although Calum Chambers will be ineligible because of the terms of his loan.

Agnew said: “I think we will have some back. It's difficult to say exactly when but Gaston's got a good chance, there's a good chance with Calum (who's ineligible) and George is close, fingers' crossed. Fabio as well, so everybody's very, very close to being fit.”