Arsene Wenger's decision to play with three at the back marked the first time the Arsenal manager had deployed such a defensive alignment since May 1997, so it was nothing if not a bold move.
It was the Chilean who produced the sole piece of real quality in the first half to send Arsenal into the break ahead, though, firing a free kick past a statuesque Brad Guzan from 25 yards for his 19th league goal of the season.
It was all to play for - especially as Wenger's men started the match in seventh place, 10 points off Manchester City in fourth place.
Wenger said: "It was positive".
The game opened up dramatically after Middlesbrough's equaliser, and Downing had a fine opportunity to work Cech after more poor Arsenal defending but could only blaze over the bar.
But despite the recent setbacks, Wenger has backed his players to turn the situation around.
But the Frenchman was generally pleased with what he saw at the Riverside Stadium despite admitting his team were lacking belief. Beleaguered Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger challenged his players to win every game between now and the end of the season to keep alive faint hopes of a top-four Premier League finish. "It was not ideal but the commitment and focus was there", said Wenger. "The players care. When you don't win your confidence goes quickly and comes back slowly, so of course you could feel even in the way we played that there was nervousness there". The Teesiders hadn't won a league game since 17 December - yet a win this evening would have lifted them to within three points of safety with a game in hand over 17th-placed Hull. "I think we adapted really well to it tonight and I think it worked really well for us, especially in the first half", said Oxlade-Chamberlain.
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He added after Arsenal ended a run of five away games without a win: "I felt that it added a bit more stability on the long balls".
"We faced a direct game and we have been punished a bit on that".
"We like to dominate the ball, but when the team lacks confidence it's good to change to a system and do something different". But Wenger has indicated that Arsenal will abandon the new-found tactics this weekend at Wembley.
"I felt we were focused and committed".
Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough): While he ended up on the losing side, Downing was 'Boro's most threatening player, and the most unsafe player on the pitch.
The home side can be proud of their performance but once again their lack of goals stopped them claiming at least a point. "We're still only six points behind Hull with a game in hand and a terrific goal difference", he said.
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