Alex Iwobi produced a brilliant reaction to Alexis Sanchez's free-kick vs Middlesbrough

Wenger's men ground out a 2-1 away win at relegation-threatened Middlesbrough last night to end a run of four consecutive away defeats in the Premier League.

Level at 1-1 after Alvaro Negredo had cancelled out Alexis Sanchez's first-half free-kick, central defender Daniel Ayala saw goalkeeper Petr Cech turn away his 61st-minute header from point-blank range, setting the stage for Mesut Ozil to clinch victory for the visitors.

"I think due to their pride they made it a hard first half and then when they came back at us and equalised, it was a test for us".

"It gave a bit of reassurance and that's what we need at the moment", Wenger told Arsenal's official website of his decision to switch to a back three.

The Gunners had dropped to seventh in the Premier League table before kick-off, so they could ill-afford to return from the Riverside Stadium with anything less than three points.

"Overall I felt that it worked quite well today because we won the game". Against Palace and West Brom, we had 70 per cent of the possession and we lost.

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Wenger, who fielded a back three for the first time in his 20-year reign, said when asked if the ploy had worked: "Yes, it is the first time in 20 years".

"It was a committed game that we needed to win". That shows you that even at my age, you can change.

"Second half, we missed the final ball when we could maybe have added one or two more and they created chances with crosses and set-pieces".

The South American's delicious set piece effort - as well as Mesut Ozil's second-half victor - helped the Gunners to only their second league win in their last nine away games, with the team having lost six and drawn one during a testing run that's seen them drop out of the top four.

Arsenal face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday. "I feel overall it is not a long-term plan, but punctually it can work".

Arsenal are now seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City with a game in hand, while Middlesbrough lie six points from safety and have also played one game fewer than most of the teams above them.