Awesome Arsenal take control

Reigning Premiership champions Arsenal FC equalled Nottingham Forest FC's feat of 42 consecutive league games unbeaten with a 5-3 win against Middlesbrough FC in a frenetic encounter at Highbury on Sunday.

Two-goal deficit
The home side were given a major scare when Middlesbrough scored three terrific goals in a ten-minute period either side of half-time to take a 3-1 lead. But man-of-the-match Dennis Bergkamp hit back almost immediately and Robert Pires drew the sides level on 65 minutes, just moments after coming on as a substitute.

Henry double
Before the home crowd had finished celebrating the equaliser, José Antonio Reyes put Arsenal ahead and the end-to-end game was wrapped up in added time when last season's ESM Golden Shoe winner Thierry Henry scored his second goal of the game.

Job equaliser
Henry had opened the scoring on 25 minutes with a deft lob over Mark Schwarzer. Joseph-Désiré Job scored an equaliser two minutes before half-time against the run of play and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Franck Queudrue struck after the interval before Arsenal demonstrated exactly why they have not lost in the Premiership since May 2003.

Unbeaten record
That run started with a 6-1 defeat of Southampton FC and today's result saw Arsène Wenger's men equal Forest's 25-year-old record. Brian Clough's men were unbeaten from 20 November 1977 to 9 December 1978 as they won the 1977/78 championship. After helping his side climb joint top with Chelsea FC, Henry said: "I don't think we realise the size of what it is we're achieving, but it's always nice to get records."

Mellberg opener
In the day's other Premiership match, top-flight newcomers West Bromwich Albion FC came from behind to gain a share of the spoils against Aston Villa FC at the Hawthorns. In a lively Midlands derby, the visitors took the lead in the fourth minute when Swedish international Olof Mellberg headed in Thomas Hitzlsperger's right-wing free-kick.

Clement leveller
But Gary Megson's men were not overawed and although Villa went close through Carlton Cole and Gareth Barry, the home side gradually clawed their way back into the game. With five minutes of the half remaining, Neil Clement headed in Jonathan Greening's flighted free-kick to win a point for Albion.