#OnThisBoroDay 2000: Arsenal's away-day woes continue as Boro come out on top at the Riverside

After being on the receiving end of a 5-1 hammering at Highbury earlier in the season, it would have been understandable if Boro approached the reverse fixture with a touch of trepidation on this day in 2000.

That wasn’t the case.

Instead of fearing another mauling at the hands of the brilliant Gunners who had cut Boro open at will when the sides met in the league in North London four months earlier, Bryan Robson’s side took heart from the fact they had knocked the same Arsenal side out of the cup earlier in the campaign.

Hamilton Ricard hit a double that day as Boro advanced on penalties. But even if Wenger’s title-chasers were aware of the dangers Ricard posed, that didn’t mean they could do anything to stop the Colombian hitman.

And so it proved.

While Arsenal were untouchable on home turf, they were nervous away from home. Indeed, they’d last won on their travels back in December and looked unlikely to end that record in a rather dull and uninspiring first half.

But if Wenger was hoping his side would come out from the break all guns blazing he had another thing coming. The opposite happened.

Boro players celebrate against Arsenal in 2000

Within three minutes of the break Paul Ince found himself in the unfamiliar surroundings of the opposition penalty box and made the most of the opportunity by nodding the opener.

And then Ricard reminded Arsenal of his qualities yet again. The frontman pounced on a misplaced Patrick Vieira pass before charging down the left, into the box and unleashing a powerful strike that was only ever destined for the back of the net.

Title contenders? Not on this performance. The defeat would leave the Gunners languishing a huge 13 points behind pacesetters Manchester United while any relegation concerns for Boro were eased as they climbed to 10 points clear of the drop-zone.

There was the late scare. Inevitably. But Dennis Bergkamp’s consolation 20 minutes from time wasn’t the start of an inspired comeback.

He who laughs last, laughs longest.

Arsenal may have battered Boro when the sides first met that season but Robbo’s battlers had come on top on two occasions since.