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.

“Consistency,” said manager Arsene Wenger, “is a sign of quality and it’s the most important quality for me.” Despite being valued by the Frenchman, it’s something his side have evidently lacked this season, but with eight Premier League games to play, the Gunners may have found their mojo again and at the critical time.

The Gunners have also lacked a cool head to steady the ship when they’re really up against it. Those normally charged with that role, Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny, have themselves been the ones dreadfully out of form and exuding nervousness.

Those casting a close eye on the performances rather than simply the results will not be totally convinced though. It could have been a very different story.

Cech’s penalty save against Watford last Sunday was vital in maintaining the two-goal buffer established by his side. Had Troy Deeney have put the ball away from 12 yards like he did in the reverse fixture, it would have been a tense remaining 30 minutes for the hosts, especially with the likes of Koscielny, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal all absent.

Ultimately Wenger has been vindicated by that decision to leave out key players for the visit of Watford. The three mainstay defenders all came back in for the Europa clash, as did Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey and all played a big role in getting the 5-1 aggregate win over the Italian side, barring Koscielny who limped off early on with a knock.

The large home crowd were given a little shock after Milan got themselves firmly back in the tie with Rossoneri midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu beating David Ospina from 25-yards out. If it weren’t for Danny Welbeck’s dive and resultant penalty, or rather the Swedish official behind the goal’s ineptitude, minutes later, Arsenal’s predicament may have looked very different.

A lot of “whataboutism,” yes, and while football and history gives not a shred of clout to “what could’ve been” it is important not to get carried away with deceptively flattering score lines.

Luckily for Arsenal, these jitters remain just that and despite the imperfections, they have a Europa League quarter-final against CSKA Moscow to look forward to.

The relatively kind draw will inevitably raise hopes of lifting that elusive European trophy and returning to the homely comforts of the Champions League.

However, there is no doubt that the team, buoyed by this series of wins, will look to prove their doubters wrong in the league where their chances of achieving an automatic European qualification place have largely been written off.

Out of Wenger’s sides remaining eight games, just three are against a top-10 team, two of which are Leicester City and Burnley — both teams whom they have beaten this season.

The Gunners will be hopeful of closing the eight-point gap separating them and London rivals Chelsea in fifth but even that would not be enough to secure a return to Europe’s main table.

Wenger and co know they have to go where they have never ventured before. It’s clear — the only remedy for their many woes is Europa League glory.