Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo's brutal reasoning for his tactical tweak on Wednesday night left Martin Keown seemingly stunned.
Forest welcomed Arsenal to the City Ground on a night when the Gunners desperately needed to conjure a response to their disappointing defeat by West Ham at the weekend.
Yet Mikel Arteta and Co were unable to find a way through Forest's resolute defence, blunted as the visitors are by a lack of a striker and still missing effervescent star Bukayo Saka.
In doing so, if they weren't already dissipated over the weekend, Arsenal's slim title hopes became even slimmer, with Liverpool beating Newcastle 2-0 to extend their lead to 13 points with 10 to play.