When it comes to gallant failures, Arsenal have given us some brilliant exhibits. Ties against Barça, Milan and Bayern last year have all been a story of massive courage and no lack of skill, but in the end only disappointment. You can go all the way back to our only appearance in the the final of the Champions League, perhaps our gallant failure masterpiece, the most painful moment of all my time supporting Arsenal. Our CL story is the embodiment of always the bridesmaid, never the bride. This isn't a criticism, more a lament. A sadness that the story is once again repeating.

What a difference a week makes. This time last Sunday we were still wallowing in the misery of a thumping on Merseyside. This time Liverpool came to us and revenge was taken on a chilly afternoon in North London. Lots had been said in the build up to the game; questions were abounding about how we would fare after being thumped by the same team so recently, would Wenger play a weakened team with an eye on Bayern, what would defeat mean for our season? In the end, it was indeed a weaker Arsenal team, but an infinitely stronger performance.