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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was impressed by Middlesbrough’s fighting spirit after their 1-1 draw at the Riverside.

Wenger watched former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere deny his side victory with a clever glancing header past Manuel Almunia in the 35th minute, cancelling out Emmanuel Adebayor’s early opener.

On Middlesbrough, Wenger said: "I must say I expected them to collapse a bit more than they did in the final part of the game and they didn’t give in.

"They kept going even when they had tired legs and that’s credit to them."

Substitute Nicklas Bendtner sent Arsenal’s last chance against the arms of Ross Turnbull but Wenger insisted: "Today was a game we would have lost at the start of the season.

"We had a better defensive balance and we were more of a team.

"We just lacked a little bit of that extra little thing that comes with confidence but we are a young team and that is why it is important we just keep belief and keep going."

Arsenal’s midweek disappointment in Portugal was compounded when they dropped further points in the Premier League with Middlesbrough holding them to a 1-1 draw at the Riverside.

A headed Emmanuel Adebayor goal put Arsenal one up but ex-Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere responded with a fine stooping header of his own to meet Tuncay’s fiercely struck cross and earn Boro a share of the points.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill was full of praise for two goal Gabby Agbonlahor after their 4-2 win over Bolton Wanderers.

O’Neill said: "Gabby was exceptional today. I thought he was terrific last week against Everton as well even though he didn’t score.

"But he got his rewards today and I thought his performance was absolutely sensational – and his first goal was a vital part of the game.

"We were finding it difficult after Bolton had scored, which was the last thing we had wanted. They looked quite comfortable at that stage but Gabby’s goal was a terrific effort. We needed a piece of magic to equalise and after that I felt we took charge of the game."

Johann Elmander’s fifth goal of the season put Bolton ahead at Villa Park but Martin O’Neill’s side rallied quickly on their way to a 4-2 victory.

Gabriel Agbonlahor put Villa back on level terms before Martin Laursen headed Gareth Barry’s cross against Kevin Davies to put Villa ahead.

The Villa team protested for a penalty after what looked a clear handball by ex-Villain Gary Cahill but referee Lee Probert dismissed their appeals.

Villa finished off Bolton in the second half when Ashley Young’s cross from the left was met by the head of Agbonlahor who dispatched his ninth league goal of the season.

Agbonlahor then returned the favour to set up Young for Villa’s fourth, Kevin Davies then made amends of sorts with a goal at the other end, but the win ensures Villa go fourth in the table.

Rafa Benitez believes Liverpool lacked control to take all three points against Hull, in the 2-2 draw at Anfield.

It could have been worse for the Spanish tactician as Steven Gerrard scored twice to help the Reds come back from 2-0 down in the first half.

"We showed character to come back and scored some good goals. But we couldn’t play the final pass properly and the game was too open.

"The game was a little bit too frenetic and you have to be able to control things a lot more in these games.

"I was really pleased with the first few minutes. But we conceded two goals and everybody was a little bit nervous after that.

"It can make a massive difference when you score first, but the reaction of the team was very good when we went two goals down.

"They were a threat playing on the counter-attack. We know that teams like this will try to be organised and play in this way.

"We made too many mistakes. These are the kind of games that you have to win. We are disappointed, but we cannot change anything."

An action-packed game at Anfield exploded early on as Hull pulled off another famous result in their inaugural Premier League season with a 2-2 draw against Liverpool.

The home crowd were stunned further when a 22nd minute own goal by Jamie Carragher put the Tigers two goals up. Steven Gerrard pulled one back when he converted a Dirk Kuyt cross from eight yards out and parity was restored when Yossi Benayoun set Gerrard up for his second goal of a relentless first half.

Sami Hyypia headed against the post as Liverpool pressed for a third in the second half but, with Robbie Keane confined to the bench for the duration of the game (despite Liverpool using all three substitutes), they were unable to find a decisive winning goal at home once more.