This scoreline should be sued for libel: Middlesbrough players sat slumped in their dressing-room on Saturday evening wearing the haunted look of the vanquished; across the corridor, Arsenal celebrated like victors. The contrasting reactions spoke of the incremental progress being made by two clubs inspired by youth and a similar commitment to attacking football.

Pilloried for being “big babies” by Phil Jagielka after their 1-0 defeat away to Sheffield United on December 30, Arsène Wenger’s team — who had capitulated earlier this season away to Manchester City, West Ham United, Bolton Wanderers and Fulham — are unbeaten in nine subsequent fixtures. There are strong suggestions that their technical excellence is no longer quite so effete.

Away to Blackburn Rovers, they won 2-0 when reduced to ten men. In two cup matches, the venom of their nine goals paralysed Anfield. For their derby away to Tottenham Hotspur, they secured a draw after trailing 2-0. At the Riverside Stadium, they performed without sheen, but had the conviction to equalise after the 61st-minute dismissal of Philippe Senderos. In spite of the furore generated by Mark Viduka raising his arm into Kolo Touré’s face, Middlesbrough were not unduly physical, yet Arsenal can realistically claim to be jettisoning their reputation as southern dandies. It is far too late for their newly-acquired durability to claw them to the title, but perhaps a transitional period is drawing to a close.

“When the sending-off happened, we had to raise ourselves and we showed a lot of character,” Thierry Henry, the captain, said. “I have been saying for a long time that there is no problem with our commitment and desire. It is there for all to see.

“We are playing as a team and that is the positive thing to take out of this match. Nobody gave up against Bolton, Spurs or Blackburn. We showed the desire to get something out of all those matches and showed it again at Boro, where we have lost in the past. We are showing the right sort of dynamism and spirit and it was important to come here and not get beaten. We refused to lose, even when we lost a player.”

The departure of Senderos, for hauling down Yakubu Ayegbeni, coincided with the award of a penalty, dispatched without fanfare by the Nigeria international. Middlesbrough would have other chances, notably for Viduka, but Arsenal withstood the pressure. They restored parity with a classic counter-attack; long ball, knockdown and an adroit finish by Henry.

It ensured a mood of deflation for Gareth Southgate, whose side are also undefeated in 2007, and that, in itself, is recognition of their development. “The way we’re playing shows how far we’ve come,” Viduka said. “We’re not as concerned with defending and dropping off and that’s what the turnaround has been based on. We’re not scared to concede goals.”

The Australia international has been a pivotal figure in their recovery; his present contract expires this summer. “All that has been said is that the club will talk to me when we’re mathematically safe from relegation,” he said. “I would like to stay and I can envisage finishing my career at Middlesbrough. If we keep playing like this, the sky’s the limit.”

Viduka rejected Wenger’s furious contention that he deliberately elbowed Touré. “There is no chance of that,” the striker said. “I was surprised when I got booked. I was shielding myself more than anything, I caught him accidentally and I was very apologetic towards him. I respect Arsène Wenger very highly as a coach and manager, but he wasn’t out there and didn’t see what happened.”

Southgate concurred. A novice in his new career, he has not been afraid to incur the wrath of Sir Alex Ferguson by criticising Cristiano Ronaldo and his immense admiration for Wenger did not prevent a stern defence of Viduka. “I don’t think it is right for me to allow any of my players to be vilified,” he said. “I know Mark and he’s a very fair player.”

The former England defender is emerging as a figure of substance. Unheralded individuals such as Emanuel Pogatetz, Andrew Taylor and Julio Arca — converted into a central midfield player — have blossomed. Southgate has responded smoothly to a frenetic few days in which Massimo Maccarone’s embittered onslaught featured prominently. “I would rather just squirm away into the background,” he said. “It’s great for the club to be in the spotlight and the more we are, the better chance we have of attracting top players here, but I’d prefer to just quietly get on with my job. There is so much to be done and I don’t want to set the lads up for a fall. I am just happy to be learning my trade.” The result may have said otherwise, but Southgate is a winner.

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