Arsène Wenger issued a reminder that you do not have to be young to be modern after his side ended a run of four successive away Premier League defeats with a 2-1 win featuring a brand-new formation at Middlesbrough last night.
Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring from a free-kick but Alvaro Negredo levelled before Mesut Ozil netted the victor.
The hosts responded shortly after the restart after Sanchez lost possession, with Stewart Downing crossing deliciously for Alvaro Negredo to bundle home past a helpless Petr Cech.
But the visitors secured their first win at the Riverside Stadium since 2005 when Mesut Ozil hammered past Brad Guzan after Aaron Ramsey's chest control.
But they remain seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, albeit with a game in hand.
The game opened up after that but Ozil's goal midway through the second half ensured Arsenal escaped with the points.
It's been a while since Arsenal supporters have sung the infamous "We've got Ozil" chant which was previously heard with much gusto at the start of the season. When you have a lack of confidence it comes back slowly and only results help. "I think Middlesbrough came out second half and made it a lot more hard and they went very direct at the end but all in all it was a new system and we have got the three points with it and that is all that matters".
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They kicked off knowing another failure to win - they have not managed a league victory since December 17 - would represent a major blow to their dwindling survival hopes, although buoyed by the knowledge that Arsenal had not collected three points on the road since they won at Swansea on January 14.
"The fact we conceded three at West Brom and three at Crystal Palace, I feel it was needed". Goal understands that Manchester City are leading the chase for the Chilean magician but Wenger will do everything to keep his star player at the club, even if demands of nearly £300,000-a-week appear to be stumping Arsenal.
But football pundits said it was the change in shape which was most noteworthy.
The Arsenal defenders struggled in the first half, failing to make a single tackle, but Boro lacked a finishing touch in front of goal to exploit the space they found down the flanks.
"Of course, Middlesbrough did fight because it was one of their last chances to stay in the league".
"I felt that when we scored we had Arsenal on the back foot and at that point we just needed the ball to fall to us. We couldn't ask more of them", he told Sky Sports. It was a change and new for a lot of us, but I think we've adapted really well to it.
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