Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says they cannot be "bullied" out of games any longer.
Wenger said: "This a period where you really have to be up for it, but I do not think we can be bullied now.
"Middlesbrough are a team which plays a different style, with wingers who cross the ball a lot, and so are based more on mobility.
"We must be able to dictate our game - we have to be able to put the ball down and play."