ON PAPER it was a clash of two once formidable titans, now fallen on hard times and the atmosphere around Ashburton Grove was livelier than it has been this season — as you would expect hosting a team that’s record of lifting the European Cup seven times is bettered only by Real Madrid.

In the end, Arsenal secured their third consecutive victory with a 3-1 win over AC Milan last night. It’s a winning streak that they haven’t produced since October and will go some way to silencing their many critics.

Following a disastrous week which took in three defeats and Arsenal dropping out the sky like a lead balloon, the seven days since last Thursday’s trip to San Siro has been the desired equal and opposite reaction.