A superb free-kick by Alexis Sanchez helped Arsenal clinch a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Monday evening.

In a bid to prevent the Gunners from conceding a fourth consecutive defeat, Arsene Wenger freshened up his squad by making five changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace, while started with three at the back for the first time since 1997.

The Gunners opened the scoring three minutes before the half-time interval when Alexis Sanchez curled his effort into the near post from the free-kick spot.

Boro did pull a goal back just after the break when Alvaro Negredo poked the ball home to net his ninth Premier League goal of the campaign.

However, Mesut Ozil sealed the victory for the Gunners with 19 minutes remaining when Sanchez chipped a ball to Aaron Ramsey inside the area, who then chested the ball into the path of Ozil to fire home from 10 yards out.

The Gunners have now moved to within seven points of Manchester City in fourth with a game in hand, having won 17 out of 31 matches played so far this season.

Meanwhile, the defeat for Middlesbrough leaves them without a win in 2017 and six points from safety with six games left to play until the 2016-17 season comes to an end.

WATCH: Sanchez’s superb free-kick as Arsenal beat Boro