Result – one on-line dictionary defines it as a desirable or beneficial consequence, outcome, or effect. Progression to the last eight of the champions league would certainly seem to suggest that that is indeed the perfect definition. Most Gooners reading this will certainly know that the team rode their luck in Rome and the result is all that mattered on the night. However, after the wreath of laurel leaves lies discarded at the airport and the cold light of dawn has turned a few times since, many fans are reflecting upon where the current team is going and whether or not it has the capacity to get there. Several blogs have stated in no uncertain terms that Arsenal, out of the remaining clubs, have the team least likely to progress to the semis, let alone having any chance of returning to Rome in May.

But why the negativity? We would certainly not be the first team to get so far winning ugly or via penalty shoot outs, as we would also not be the first team to go the distance having so few chances. We would not even be the first Arsenal side to do it that way – Copenhagen '94 was hardly a night of footballing genius on our part. Even the '05 FA Cup was won in a similar way, but history does not show the quality, just the result. Arsenal have been on the end of those sort of results as well, despite our ability on the pitch. The fact is that winning ugly is what football is about for 90% of the time, so why as fans should we not be willing to see our team shrug of its propensity for flair and attractive football in favour of the insipid, ground out, uninspired and dare I say unsightly version of the game? Why should we not be prepared to see our team win ugly more often and why seem so disappointed when we do? Have we become such footballing purists that we cannot accept anything but free flowing total football? For some I suspect that is the case, but actually history is more likely to point to the fact that the result has always mattered more than how it was obtained. Yes, it is a fantastic feeling to know you have won in the best way possible, but moral high ground, while easy to defend and hang on to, is often more easily bypassed as the battle for results moves swiftly passed.

If we do return to Rome in May, don't expect it to be because we are masters of our own brand of breath-taking football, but instead because we are capable of rolling with the punches when we need to and standing up to the test when it counts.