Middlesbrough 1-2 Arsenal: Wenger’s three at the back experiment succeeds to send Gunners back into top six

Aside from a string of poor results this season, one of the main reasons Arsenal fans have been calling for Arsene Wenger to finally step down as Arsenal manager has been his refusal to adapt to the modern game as rival coaches continue to show up the once-revolutionary Frenchman.

A trip to the Riverside to face Middlesbrough with your top six place under threat seems like a strange place to attempt to prove your doubters wrong, but, on Easter Monday, Wenger decided to switch things up and field a three at the back system for the first time since 1997.

And Wenger’s decision proved to be the correct one, as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil scored in a 2-1 win for the Gunners which moved them back into the top six - and kept Boro six points from safety.

Alvaro Negredo cancelled out Sanchez’s opener just after half-time, and the hosts wasted some clear chances to get something out of the game - though their performance hardly inspired confidence in their ability to fight off relegation.

The game opened with Boro on top. Fabio was causing problems down the left flank, and he drew an early foul from Oxlade-Chamberlain which resulted in a booking for the makeshift wing-back.

And it was nice work the Brazilian which led to a chance for Negredo - though his shot on the turn was charged down. The warning signs were there for Arsenal though.

They did manage a few chances of their own after growing into their new system, Gabriel flashing a header just wide, but Boro looked more dangerous when they managed to venture into the final third.

And they even managed to find the back of the net, though De Roon was correctly flagged offside after seeing his powerful header nestle in the far corner.

The departure of Fabio due to injury really started to put Arsenal in control. Having been breaking through the Gunners’ back-line every time he moved forward, his replacement George Friend failed to do so, and the visitors settled and began to dominate.

Ramsey saw a strike cleared off the line, after connecting well with Giroud’s flicked header, and Guzan collected a Sanchez attempt which bounced off the turf as it headed towards goal.

But it was the Gunners who took the lead, Sanchez’s free-kick beating Guzan minutes before half-time. It was certainly a nicely taken attempt by the Chilean, though the keeper should have done better with a shot which was not even close to top corner.

It took Boro less than five minutes after the restart to pull level.

Downing broke down the right flank and curled a superb inswinging cross into the area, where Negredo was on hand to beat Gabriel and Koscielny and prod the ball home.

Downing blasted a close range attempt wildly over the bar after great wing-play from Friend, before Cech pawed an Ayala header off the line when it appeared the hosts were set to take the lead.

Middlesbrough were in the ascendancy.

Traore was brought on and immediately caused chaos breaking into the Arsenal box, though he failed to capitalise on his fantastic position by losing the ball yards away from goal.

And that wastefulness came back to haunt Boro, as Sanchez once again showed his quality in the final third to help Arsenal take back the lead.

The Chile forward chipped a neat ball into the area which Ramsey chested down on the penalty spot, setting up Ozil for an easy right-footed finish which beat Guzan too easily at his near post.

Chances for Negredo, Giroud and Ayala all came and went in a remarkably open final 10 minutes, before Gibson wasted Boro’s best chance to pull the match level in the dying stages.

A free-kick was headed back across the face of goal, but the centre-back failed to connect properly with the ball and Cech gratefully fell upon the weak attempt.

That was the last clear chance of the game, and the final whistle went to move Boro one match closer to impending relegation.