Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for this Monday night Premier League contest between Middlesbrough and Arsenal at the Riverside Stadium! Both sides are in desperate need of a victory following recent poor spells of form which have left them far short of their targets for the season. Time is running out for either to change their situation, and today's game could well be regarded as a must-win for both teams. Before we get into that, though, let's check out the team news...

MIDDLESBROUGH STARTING XI: Guzan; Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Fabio; Clayton, De Roon, Leadbitter; Ramirez, Downing, Negredo

MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Konstantopoulos, Friend, Bernardo, Forshaw, Traore, Bamford, Gestede

ARSENAL STARTING XI: Cech; Gabriel, Koscielny, Holding; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Xhaka, Monreal; Ozil, Giroud, Sanchez

ARSENAL SUBS: Martinez, Bellerin, Gibbs, Coquelin, Elneny, Walcott, Iwobi

How is that for an interesting selection from Arsenal? We'll start with a look at Middlesbrough, though, and Steve Agnew has also made a few notable changes to his side for tonight's match. The headline for the hosts is that Alvaro Negredo starts having been surprisingly left out of the side to face Burnley last time out, and the Spaniard will be hopeful of putting himself about against an Arsenal defence that has been shaky of late - particularly away from home - and looks to be playing in an unfamiliar formation.

Adama Traore, arguably Boro's next most dangerous attacker, once again has to settle for a place on the bench, though, despite having completed a league-high 133 dribbles this season. Instead, Steve Agnew welcomes Gaston Ramirez back from an ankle injury in place of Stuani, who drops out of the squad entirely for this game. Stewart Downing retains his place in the side, though, and his delivery could be key if Boro are to maximise the impact of Negredo tonight.

In all, Agnew has made no fewer than five changes to the team that drew with Burnley last time out, one of which comes between the sticks as Victor Valdes miss out altogether, giving Brad Guzan the opportunity to impress in goal. There also seems to be a formation switch defensively, with Boro expected to go back to four at the back with Fabio returning to the starting XI. Espinosa is the man to make way for him.

There is one change in midfield too as De Roon comes in for Forshaw, completed a much different starting XI to the one we saw against Burnley. The teamsheet suggests that Boro will opt for a 4-3-3 formation today, or a 4-2-3-1 system, and it will be interesting to see how that lines up against Arsenal's own change of formation, with the Gunners the latest team to try out a 3-4-3.

Not many people would have been expecting such a change from Arsene Wenger today, but the 3-4-3 formation has worked for plenty of teams already this season - most notably Chelsea - and the Frenchman clearly feels that he needs to do something differently to snap his side out of their recent malaise. The big news for Arsenal at the back is that Laurent Koscielny returns following an Achilles injury, and he is joined in that back three by Gabriel and, surprisingly, Rob Holding. There is no room for Mustafi in the squad.

Arsenal are also boosted by the return of Petr Cech from a calf injury, meaning that they have their number one goalkeeper back having been forced to face Crystal Palace with number three Martinez in goal. Ospina remains sidelined, so the return of Cech is a timely one for the Gunners. It remains to be seen whether the keeper and the defence have any difficulties adapting to this new system of theirs, though.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks like being the right wing-back in this formation, which is an interesting choice considering he looked like he had been leaning towards a move into central midfield during his recent performances, while on the opposite flank Monreal continues. That switch also means that Bellerin - jeered by his own fans for his performance against Palace a week ago - drops to the bench in one of six changes made by Wenger.

In addition to Cech, Gabriel, Holding and Oxlade-Chamberlain coming in, Ramsey and Giroud also return to the starting lineup for this match, with Elneny, Walcott and Welbeck among those to make way. Giroud is the only player in this current Arsenal squad to have scored against Middlesbrough - doing so twice in an FA Cup tie in 2015 - but the likes of Ozil and Sanchez will be hoping to add their names to that short list as they support the Frenchman in that front three.

Are they both team selections of men making their last desperate throw of the dice, perhaps? It certainly looks to be that way, and as far as Middlesbrough are concerned Steve Agnew does not have much choice. They have been left behind while the likes of Swansea, Hull, Crystal Palace and Leicester have all benefitted from changing managers, with Boro's switch from Karanka to interim boss Agnew yet to pay dividends.

Agnew is without a win in his four matches at the helm so far, drawing against Swansea and Burnley and losing to Manchester United and Hull, although it would be incredibly harsh to suggest that he has been the problem in recent weeks. Indeed, Boro have shown signs of improvement since he took over - in their performances if not their results - and have certainly shown more attacking intent despite failing to score in two of those four outings.

Boro's problems predate Agnew ascent to the main job at the club, with the North-east outfit now 14 Premier League games without a win, drawing six and losing eight of those. It is a run which stretches all the way back to a 3-0 triumph over Swansea City on December 17, and during that time they have failed to even score in nine of those 14 outings, netting just six goals. Boro have been difficult to beat for much of the campaign, but that has changed a bit since Christmas.

Some of the stats are still very rare for a team in Boro's position, though. They have lost 'only' 15 games this season - no team has lost fewer in the bottom nine - while their defensive record is the joint-best outside the five. Indeed, Boro have conceded two goals fewer than Arsenal so far this season, but it is their record at the other end of the pitch which has left them in such a precarious position.

Middlesbrough have scored a measly 22 goals in their 31 games this season - fewer than the league's top scorer Romelu Lukaku has managed on his own - and that has contributed to a league-low tally of just four wins throughout the entire campaign too. Indeed, they have picked up as many points through draws as they have through wins (12), sharing the spoils on a joint league-high 12 occasions this term. Boro need to start turning some of those into wins if they are to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Boro do have games in hand over the teams around them in the table, and a six-point gap with seven games of their season remaining is by no means unassailable, but in that time they will have to conjure up a few shocks. In addition to facing Arsenal tonight, Boro must still play three of the top four before the season is over, in addition to Bournemouth, Sunderland and Southampton. Considering their only four wins this season have come against the other teams currently in the bottom five of the table, that is a huge ask.

Boro have only picked up three points from a possible 30 against teams currently in the top seven this season, and home advantage has not counted much for them either so far this season. No team has amassed fewer points in front of their own fans, while their tally of 12 home goals from 15 matches is the worst in the top four tiers of English football. They are winless in their last six league games in front of their own fans, although three of their four wins this season have come here at the Riverside.

In most other scenarios, such a record would point to a banker away win when a team like Arsenal come to town, but the Gunners are not in a good way themselves at the moment. Ravaged by off-the-field distractions from contract wrangling to fan protests, Arsenal's on-field fortunes have taken a nosedive in recent weeks and the Gunners are in very real danger of missing out on a top-four spot in the Premier League for the first time under Arsene Wenger.

Wenger is still yet to make a public announcement regarding his future, with the saga having been rumbling on for far too long now considering the Frenchman claimed a while ago that he has made his mind up. It could be that he is waiting for a more suitable moment to announce that he is staying and, considering the team's form in recent weeks, there haven't been many of them. Arsenal have lost seven of their last 12 outings in all competitions, with two of their four wins in that time coming against non-league opposition.

Wenger could not exactly announce that he is staying following a result like last Monday's 3-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace otherwise there would be even greater uproar amongst the fans, but one way or another he must surely announce a decision soon. Arsenal's recent form has seen them humiliated in the Champions League and slip down to seventh in the Premier League table, now 10 points adrift of the top four and 19 off leaders Chelsea.

Another other than a win this evening would see them stay in seventh, below Everton, although they do have three games in hand over the Toffees so are still favourites to at least finish in that top six. It is the top-four they want to be in, though, and that is getting more and more unlikely despite the Gunners also enjoying games in hand over the teams currently occupying those spots. Manchester United have leapfrogged them in the queuing now and Arsenal will need a very strong end to the season if they are to claw their way back into contention.

The Gunners have only won two of their last eight Premier League games, with five defeats in that time and only seven points from a possible 24. Stretching even further back it is seven defeats in 15 Premier League outings for Arsenal, which is as many as they had lost in their 52 games prior to that - a sign of their remarkable slump in recent months. The Gunners actually sat top of the table after a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture against Boro, but now find themselves fighting for a place in Europe.

It is Arsenal's away form which has been particularly damaging during this time, with five defeats from their last six on the road across all competitions and the only exception coming at non-league Sutton United. Arsenal have not picked up a single Premier League away point since January 14, losing four on the bounce for the first time ever under Arsene Wenger and conceding exactly three goals in each of those defeats. Another loss this evening would make it five top-flight away losses on the bounce for the first time since December 1984.

Things don't look like getting much easier for Arsene Wenger in the coming weeks either. Tonight's game is their best hope of an increasingly rare three points over the next few games, at least on paper. On Sunday they will take on Manchester City in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, while after that they face resurgent champions Leicester, high-flying North London rivals Tottenham and the long-time unbeaten Manchester United in succession.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Riverside Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction! With both teams in such poor form, this is quite a difficult one to call. Middlesbrough are capable of frustrating opposition - as Arsenal know first hand from the reverse fixture - but they are looking increasingly doomed with each passing week and Arsenal need a win to keep their top-four hopes alive. I'll go for a 2-1 away triumph!

That reverse fixture in October ended goalless at the Emirates Stadium - the first time in 17 previous Premier League meetings that Arsenal had failed to score against Boro. The Gunners have still scored in their last 13 Premier League games here at the Riverside, though, a run which stretches back to April 1993 when they were beaten 1-0. Arsenal's joint-biggest Premier League win also came against Boro when they romped to a 7-0 success in January 2006.

Boro are unbeaten in their last four home games against Arsenal, though, winning two and drawing two of those. It is a decent record on first glance, although the last time Arsenal made the trip to the Riverside was way back in December 2008. That match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Emmanuel Adebayor opening the scoring for the Gunners before Aliadiere scored against his former club to earn Boro a point.

Despite keeping a clean sheet last time out against Arsenal, Boro have conceded more goals to the Gunners than any other opponent in the Premier League. They have shipped 62 in their 29 meetings since the division was formed, but it should also be noted that their defensive record this season is considerably better than on previous occasions when these two have met.

Right, the players are out and we're just about ready to go for this huge match at both ends of the table. Changes galore as both sides approach last-chance saloon this season!

KICKOFF: Arsenal get us underway at the Riverside Stadium!

Guzan is forced into an early save to deny Giroud's header from around seven yards out, but the whistle had already gone for a foul against the Arsenal striker.

YELLOW CARD! Oxlade-Chamberlain gets a very early booking for a mistimed challenge on Fabio - not good considering his increased defensive duties tonight!

SHOT! The ball is played short to Leadbitter, who is given space to shoot and sure enough tries his luck from a good 35 yards out. It has Cech worried enough to dive, but it flies a few yards wide of the target.

Guzan needs to be alert to come off his line and sweep up the danger following a lightning counter from Arsenal. Giroud tried to flick the ball around the corner for a rampaging Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Guzan was there in plenty of time to make the clearance.

YELLOW CARD! Less than seven minutes in and we've already had two yellow cards. Again Anthony Taylor has little choice here as Leadbitter flies into a challenge on Ozil which is nowhere near the ball.

Leadbitter looked to have picked up an injury while making that challenge, but it seems that he will try to continue. Meanwhile Ramirez makes a bright break forward with Arsenal players slipping all over the place before he is finally dispossessed. Plenty of players having trouble staying on their feet tonight!

Important piece of defending from Holding as he sweeps across behind the back line to clear the danger after Negredo had looked to skip around his man. Moments later the ball comes to Negredo again, but this time Holding is there to block the shot.

Steve Agnew will be very pleased with what he has seen from his side in the opening stages here. They have looked full of life and energy and are not letting Arsenal get into any early rhythm so far.

Fabio needs some treatment here after going down after an innocuous clash with Oxlade-Chamberlain. Difficult to see what exactly happened there, but Fabio looks to be in a spot of bother.

The former Manchester United full-back hobbles over to the touchline to receive further treatment as the fit-again Friend is sent out to warm up.

MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Fabio is not going to be able to continue here. He trudges down the tunnel with his head in his hands and on comes George Friend in his place.

Still no chances to report in this one after the best part of 20 minutes. Middlesbrough made the brighter start to the match, but right now Arsenal and beginning to settle into it more.

No way through for Arsenal as they begin to put the Boro defence under a bit of prolonged pressure. It looks like the Gunners will need to be nice and patient this evening.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Middlesbrough have the ball in the back of the net, but the celebrations are cut short by the linesman's flag. An initial free kick into the box was cleared to Ramirez, who lifted it back into the area. De Roon is left unmarked and nods it into the back of the net, but he did so from an offside position.

Another Middlesbrough free kick is picked up on the second ball by a red shirt, but Leadbitter's volley is sliced comfortably off target without troubling Cech at all.

Arsenal have had 70% of the ball in this opening half an hour or so, but they are yet to create anything of note. It is a tense and cagey affair so far.

CHANCE! By the standards of this game, this is a chance for Arsenal. Oxlade-Chamberlain does well to skip past Friend on the right channel before standing a cross up to the back post for Giroud. The French striker nods it back to Ramsey, but his attempted volley goes into the ground which takes all of the pace off it and it is cleared before it can trouble Guzan.

SAVE! The best part of half an hour in and Arsenal have their first shot on target! It is a difficult one for Sanchez, in truth, with the Chilean hooking a volley back towards goal after a flick-on to the far post. Like Ramsey moments ago, though, he puts it into the ground and it is easy for Guzan to collect.

Well, this hasn't been the best half an hour of Premier League football we have seen this season, it must be said. Both teams are short on confidence right now and it is showing here tonight.

CHANCE! Brilliant defending from Middlesbrough to keep Arsenal at bay! Oxlade-Chamberlain is again the man causing the problems as he races to the byline before pulling a low ball back into the box. Leadbitter slides in to get an initial touch to the ball, but that threatens to take it into the path of Sanchez before Barragan comes in with a crucial sliding challenge.

Better from Middlesbrough as they turn the tables a little and begin to put Arsenal under some pressure. The Gunners deal with it, but it is enough to get the crowd up momentarily.

Very risky challenge from Ramsey as he goes in almost knee-high on Clayton. It wasn't a vicious challenge and there wasn't really any danger of doing the Middlesbrough man any harm, but Ramsey gave the referee a decision to make. A free kick is punishment enough according to Anthony Taylor.

This scoreline would not exactly be a good one for either side, so hopefully we will see a little more attacking intent as the minutes tick by tonight. It hasn't been great so far.

In his haste to try to block a shot from Xhaka, Clayton goes diving in on Xhaka, conceding a free kick in a very good position for the Gunners. Centre of the goal, 25 yards out - both Sanchez and Ozil are over this one...

This game was in desperate need of a moment of individual magic, and Sanchez has just provided it moments before half time. The Chilean takes on the free kick duties and he gets it over the wall and back down in time to beat a statuesque Guzan. It looked like it was a perfect position for a free kick, and Sanchez took full advantage.

YELLOW CARD! Boro go on the attack straight from kickoff and Gabriel concedes a free kick in a dangerous position and receives a yellow card for his troubles.

Well, he was just shown how to do it by Sanchez, but Leadbitter was clearly not watching. It looks like he doesn't know whether to go over the wall or under it, and in the end it is a tame mixture between the two which is easily dealt with.

There will be two added minutes at the end of this first half.

Anthony Taylor brings an end to the first half, then, and it is just one moment of magic that separates the two sides after a fairly dull opening 45 minutes in truth. Chances have been very few and far between at both ends of the field, but Alexis Sanchez's free kick just before the interval is the difference as things stand.

Questions may be asked over Brad Guzman's part in the goal as Sanchez's free kick was not right in the corner and the Boro keeper did not even move to try to keep it out. He may have been unsighted by what was a big wall, and even if he had seen it all the way then there is no guarantee that he would have reached it as it was still a very good strike from Sanchez. The Chilean has now scored 19 Premier League goals this season, which is just three fewer than Boro's entire squad.

At this stage I usually look at some of the other highlights from the first half, but in truth it has been slim pickings in this one so far. Leadbitter has fired one long-range effort well wide while De Roon has seen a header correctly disallowed for offside. Arsenal, meanwhile, have failed to make the most of half-chances for Ramsey and Sanchez.

KICKOFF: Middlesbrough get us back underway for the second half at the Riverside as they look to turn things around and breathe new life into their survival hopes.

Positive start to the second half from Middlesbrough as they win an early corner, but it comes to nothing. The hosts have little choice but to take a few more risks in this second half.

Lift off at the Riverside! Middlesbrough level things up five minutes into the second half as Negredo comes up with a HUGE goal for the hosts! Downing cuts inside onto his left foot and floats a lovely cross into the box. Negredo steals in between Koscielny and Gabriel and just prods the ball into the corner with his studs. Game on!

Middlesbrough are the lowest scorers in English football this season, so to even have breached the Arsenal defence is a rarity, but these home fans clearly feel that they can get more tonight!

Still not exactly impressive stats, but they could prove vital, particularly if they turn this one around...

5 - Alvaro Negredo has scored five of Middlesbrough's 13 home PL goals this season, no other player has scored more than two. Homer. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 17, 2017

CHANCE! Awful defending from Arsenal as Friend is allowed to carry the ball a long way and skip past Gabriel all too easily. His ball into the box is poor, but Monreal loops a bizarre clearance straight to Downing, who blazes well over the bar.

Arsenal win a free kick in a good crossing position and, while the initial delivery from Oxlade-Chamberlain is poor, Middlesbrough fail to clear their lines adequately. Xhaka's mis-hit volley from the edge of the box almost falls kindly from Giroud before Boro are able to hack it away.

Arsenal, by the way, have now conceded 13 goals in their last five away games in the Premier League and have kept only one clean sheet in their last 12 away outings. Not good enough for a side who began the season with ambitions to challenge for the title.

CHANCE! Middlesbrough are so close to a second goal to really send Arsenal spiralling into turmoil! A deep free kick to the back post is nodded back into the middle by Friend and Ayala is there to meet it on the edge of the six-yard box. He gets a firm contact on his diving header too, but puts it straight at Cech when anywhere else would have been a goal. Big, big chance!

Crucial defending from Oxlade-Chamberlain, but again it is poor from Arsenal to get into that situation. A powerful shot is blocked and somehow the rebound sends Ramirez through on goal from the halfway line. Oxlade-Chamberlain is the covering defender, but he has the pace to get back and make the challenge.

CHANCE! This game is really beginning to open up now! Guzan needs to be very quick off his line to thwart Ozil after the German had been picked out by a fine through-ball from Sanchez. Ozil got a toe to the ball first, but Guzan made a big stop to keep it out.

The last five minutes have been about as far removed from the first half as possible. Both sides are now going for it, knowing that a draw does neither of them any favours, and the game is a much more enjoyable spectacle as a result.

Things have just calmed down a little now, but there is still the feeling that this game is on a knife edge. If Middlesbrough can win the ball from one of Arsenal's midfielders or defenders - as they have threatened to do on a couple of occasions - then they could be in.

SHOT! The ball drops kindly for Ozil to have a swing at it from a long way out, but he blasts a first-time effort well off target.

MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Some pace and trickery for Arsenal to worry about now as Adama Traore comes on in place of Ramirez.

...and what a lively introduction from the erratic winger! He makes a few early runs at the Arsenal defence, he second of which sees him advance into the area only for him to get caught in two minds and fail to make any of a promising attacking position.

That should settle a few Arsenal nerves as Ozil restores the visitors' lead with less than 19 minutes remaining. Sanchez lifts the ball into the box and Ramsey unselfishly chests it down straight to Ozil, who drills a low strike past Guzan at the near post from close range. Middlesbrough have to do it all again now!

Considering Middlesbrough's remaining fixtures, it is probably not an exaggeration to suggests that their Premier League survival could rest on the next 17 minutes. They need something from this one.

Crucial piece of defending from Ayala as he just gets a toe on the ball to poke it away from Giroud when the Arsenal man would have been clean through on goal had he not got the touch.

The game has just gone a little flat again since that Arsenal goal, which will suit the visitors just perfectly. They have regained a but of control over the match following an open period, and Boro need something to change that.

MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: An attacking throw of the dice from Agnew as he brings Rudy Gestede on for De Roon. Expect a lot of long balls forward to that front two now.

SAVE! Gestede almost makes an immediate impact as he chests the ball down and then plays it back to Negredo on the edge of the box, but the Spaniard's first-time effort lacks the power to really trouble Cech.

CHANCE! Good chance for Arsenal to kill this one off once and for all. Sanchez plays the ball into the feet of Giroud, who cuts back onto his left and looks to pick out the top corner. He gets it all wrong, though, and puts it will wide of the target.

YELLOW CARD! Gestede picked up a booking for a foul earlier in the move that led to that Giroud shot.

CHANCE! Half a chance for the hosts as Ayala rises highest to meet a cross at the back post, but he can't get enough power on his header and it is easy for Cech to collect.

Arsenal could be in for a nervy final few minutes here. Boro are peppering the box with crosses that the Gunners have so far done well to deal with, but with Gestede and Negredo in there it is very dangerous.

CHANCE! Another chance comes from a free kick from Boro, and it is almost a carbon copy of the last! The ball is knocked back into the middle from the far post and Gibson stretches out a leg to poke it goalwards, but he can't do much more and Cech is able to drop on the ball.

ARSENAL SUBS: A double change from Arsene Wenger in these closing stages as Sanchez and Ozil make way to be replaced by Hector Bellerin and Francis Coquelin.

There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match.

CHANCE! Chance for Arsenal to get a third as Oxlade-Chamberlain cuts inside from the right flank and looks up for support in the middle. Giroud is there, but the winger attempts to catch Guzan out at the near post and is smothered by the keeper.

CHANCE! Another chance for Oxlade-Chamberlain on the break, but this time he can only fire his effort into the side-netting!

CLOSE! Giroud also comes close late on with an audacious lofted effort that drops just past the post.

Arsenal hold on for the win, then, and what a crucial win it is for the Gunners! They certainly didn't have things all their own way tonight and the performance won't fool anyone into thinking that all of their problems are solved, but they do climb back up to sixth in the Premier League table and are now seven points adrift of the Champions League places. Sanchez and Ozil got the goals either side of a Negredo strike for Middlesbrough, who remain six points from safety and are now winless in 15.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Arsenal battle past Middlesbrough to end their away day woes with a 2-1 victory. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction from both camps. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!