2008-03-17 : Arsenal v Middlesbrough

Dear Supporter,

It was a very disappointing result for us on Saturday because we have now dropped eight points in the last four games. When you're in the race for the championship, especially when you have the opponents we have, that's a big disappointment.

There were a number of talking points in the Middlesbrough game itself. Mido was sent off for a high challenge on Gael Clichy but I don't think there was any intention there. He hit Gael on top of his head because he just headed the ball at the moment Mido wanted to play the ball.

I believe the referee gave the red card when he saw the injury, because Gael was bleeding on the top of his head, but it was very difficult to assess that Mido wanted to hit him on his head.

Was Middlesbrough's goal offside? They say the offside situation is judged every time the ball is played and of course the ball wasn't played to Jeremie Aliadiere at first. But, in the spirit of the game, he was offside.

Emmanuel Adebayor was ruled offside even though he was played through by George Boateng, the Boro midfielder. The referee, Mark Halsey, explained to me afterwards that the intention of Robin van Persie was to play the ball to Adebayor, who was offside. That means the deflection of the ball doesn't count anymore. I didn't know that but, at least I learned something new on Saturday!

The result is disappointing but, for now, we don't know how much damage it has done to our title hopes. We'll see that at the end of the season. A draw is not good enough but we have to keep our belief, our spirit, and focus on the next game.

Thanks for your support.