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.

We won the league (we won the league), on Merseyside (on Merseyside), we won the league on Merseyside, we won the league at anfield, we won the league on Merseyside.

We won the league (we won the league), in Manchester (in Manchester), we won the league in Manchester, we won the league at old trafford, we won the league in Manchester.

We won the league (we won the league), at white hart lane (at white hart lane), we won the league at white hart lane, we won the league at the shithole, we won the league at white hart lane.  

We've won the league an awful lot of times when compared to 92 other top flight clubs.  We've also been lucky enough to rub those victories into the faces of our main competition and our rivals for the title in that season, oh, and at white hart lane too.  We have also done it unbeaten.  We also have the second best FA cup winning record of all time.  While we are at it we are among a handful of British clubs that have had at least two European successes.

We are more than capable of achieving these things again.  So what if we didn't do it last season, or even if we do not do it this season?  What we have is tradition, history and time and again the club we support have proven themselves as winners.  We are winners, not whiners.  True gooners should not have to be reminded of these things.

We practically invented the modern game, or have been at the forefront of its development (floodlights,  televised matches, heated changing rooms, post match warm downs, etc, etc).  Off the pitch we conduct ourselves with more class and panache than most of the other clubs plying their trade across Europe.  It is one of the reasons that every transfer we ever conduct is announced as an undisclosed fee.  We have traditionally run away from the pack, broken our own ground and set trends as opposed to following blindly the activities of others.  We are consistent in our history.  We haven't been a 'flash in the pan' for the last decade or so, or a product of the current billionaire owners trend.  Quite  frankly, that is something to be proud about.  I also think that it has more worth than any once in a blue moon trophy (no dig intended, Citeh).

As a club we plough a lone furrow, but as furrows go it is one of the best and the crop is consistently reaped because of it.

I cannot think of a single reason why we should now want to start emulating the short termism that has bitten a host of other clubs.  Why would we want to jeopardise our very history and make an enemy of our future.  Yes it is frustrating at times that we do not seem to be competitive in the transfer market, but I am struggling to think of a season since '95 when we were not competitive on the pitch.

If you dont like it or are not prepared to carry this legacy as an Arsenal supporter/fan/follower/whatever you call yourself, then I suggest you stop, take a few deep breaths, take a few minutes to consider what it is you want out of life and then fuck off to another sport; preferably one that involves a loaded gun, a hair trigger, a dirty barrel, a dodgy cleaning kit  and an overly inquisitive eye.