Wenger admits back-3 'not a long-term plan'

When the team sheets were released an hour prior to Monday's match between Arsenal and Middlesbrough, Gunners supporters were understandably in disbelief as Arsene Wenger opted for a back-three.

For the first time since his first season with the club in 1997, the Frenchman started three central defenders - Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny, and Rob Holding - a system that has been popularised in England this season by Tottenham and Chelsea.

Not known for his tactical flexibility, Wenger concedes that it's not a system for the future.

"I feel overall it is not a long-term plan, but punctually it can work," Wenger told the club's website after Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil scored in a 2-1 victory at the Riverside to keep Arsenal's slim top-four hopes alive.

"I don't know, I just felt that sometimes the team needs to believe in something new, something different, just to find a bit of confidence back," Wenger added.

With Nacho Monreal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at wing-backs, the back-three appeared a more solid defensive unit than the one that has conceded 40 goals this campaign. Still, Wenger and his charges are known for employing fluid, attack-happy football, and from the sounds of it, that will not soon change.

"We had practiced on it before at some stage, (but) we like offensive football so this was a bit more defensive-minded for us," he said.

"Overall I felt that it worked quite well today because we won the game."