Middlesbrough's poor form continued on Monday night as Steve Agnew’s side succumbed to yet another defeat at the hands of an also underachieving Arsenal.

 

It was another desperately poor performance from Arsenal, and Middlesborough will be kicking themselves that they once again left the Riverside pointless. Too often that has been the story this season for Boro: a result that did not match their performance. And ultimately it has been their downfall, as well as their obvious lack of prowess in front of goal.

After heavy investment in the summer, in which the likes of Alvaro Negredo, Marten De Roon, Viktor Fischer, Antonio Barragan and pacy former Barcelona winger Adama Traore joined the club, expenditure of nearly £25million and household names making their way to the North of England, Boro were looking more like a side who would challenge for Europe than relegation fodder.

Now the only side England's top four divisions without a win in 2017, things haven’t quite gone to plan and with one manager down in Aitor Karanka, and currently six points adrift of safety, things are looking bleak at the Riverside.

To say they have underachieved would be somewhat of an understatement. Here are four reasons why Middlesbrough should have done far better this season...

Resources aplenty

Middlesborough had far more than enough resources to survive this season. Not only did they bring in a number of young European talents like Viktor Fischer from Ajax, but they also proven talent in the likes of Negredo and Victor Valdes.

It was clear from the offset that chairman Steve Gibson was willing to spend money in order to ensure his club’s Premier League safety. Whether the recruitment was wrong, the players haven’t performed or it is the fault of the managers is a topic for debate.

Proven performers

Amongst those that came into the club and those already there, Boro have a number of proven Premier League performers on their books that should have provided both the youngsters and the newcomers with some much needed know-how when it came to playing top-flight English football.

Former Manchester United defender Fabio, Hull and Southampton old boy Gaston Ramirez, Stuart Downing and on-loan Arsenal man Calum Chambers all have plenty of games in the Premier League under their belt.

Unfortunately it seems they were unable to pass their wisdom on to those around them, nor utilise it themselves.

Adama Traore

Aitor Karanka’s persistence with Traore in the early stages of the season despite the Spaniard scoring no goals nor gathering any assists contributed heavily to Boro’s lack of goals and hence the position they find themselves in now.

Plenty of pace, and plenty of strength. All bark and no bite.

Finishing touch

Being a Boro fan must be frustrating, especially during the first half of the Premier League season. Playing well, defending exceptionally well at times but never having the final pass or finish to see teams off, Boro’ were more than in games, and were in fact dominating them when playing teams in the bottom half the table, but their lack of prowess has cost them dearly.

Alvaro Negredo could have arguably scored more, but with him having been involved in over half of all Middlesborough’s goals this season - 14 of 23 to be exact - he can hardly be to blame. Championship high flyer’s Patrick Bamford and Rudy Gestede predictably misfired at the top level once again, and the lack of goals from elsewhere on the pitch is worrying.

Perhaps with a scoring midfielder and a capable second striker, things would be looking different for Boro.