Middlesbrough may have thought facing Arsenal would be easier than Man City, says boss Aitor Karanka

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has suggested his team believed the visit to Arsenal would be easier than playing Manchester City after seeing the Championship side lose 2-0 at the Emirates.

Boro had beaten reigning Premier League champions City at the Etihad Stadium to reach the FA Cup fifth round - but Karanka's side never looked like producing similar heroics in north London.

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Olivier Giroud's double knocked the stuffing out of the visitors, who had only one shot on target throughout the game.

And Karanka thought his side may have been lulled into a false sense of security having already collected the scalp of City, as well as taking Liverpool to penalties in a Capital One Cup tie at Anfield.

Karanka said: "I'm a little bit disappointed because everyone was expecting another game like we played against Liverpool or Man City and this is my biggest concern, we didn't go to the pitch in the way we usually go. In the first half I didn't like anything.

"It could be that the atmosphere (amongst the players) was very exciting and everyone was expecting another win. 

"The players maybe thought it was going to be easier because we played very well against Manchester City two or three weeks ago.

"I think, especially in the first half, we haven't played in the way we like to. It is difficult to beat teams like Arsenal and if you want to take something from games against Arsenal today you have to be perfect, like we were at the Etihad Stadium, and if you make mistakes it is difficult."

Boro lie second in the Sky Bet Championship after the weekend's games and travel to Birmingham on Wednesday night before hosting Leeds United at the Riverside at lunchtime on Saturday.