WHEN Arsenal secured one of the most memorable victories in their history in midweek, dumping the Galacticos of Real Madrid out of the Champions League, a season fast looking like becoming a stain on their illustrious history was suddenly reignited.

Out of contention in the Premiership, brushed aside by Wigan in the Carling Cup, outmuscled by Bolton in the FA Cup, Europe was the last hope of salvation for Arsene Wenger's men as they marked the final season at their spiritual Highbury home before moving to the blandly titled Emirates Stadium.

The departure of the mercurial Patrick Vieira during the summer obviously played its part, as did injuries to key players such as Ashley Cole, Freddie Ljungberg, Sol Campbell and Thierry Henry. This meant that Wenger had to put his faith in players still wet behind the ears and performances on the pitch reflected this.

Off-the-field problems also contributed to their woes, with both Cole and Campbell targets of the tabloid press.

Put together, these factors made Wednesday's game the biggest encounter of not just this season, but arguably of recent times. Quite simply, the Gunners hierarchy would not have wanted the final chapter in 93 years of Highbury glory to end without the prospect of a single trophy.

Thankfully for Wenger that last chapter remains unwritten.

Having beaten David Beckham et al on their home turf thanks to a piece of Henry magic, the Gunners ensured their passage through to the Champions League quarter-finals with a goalless draw every bit as good as the victory at the Bernabeu.

It was all the more impressive given the lack of top-level experience in the side. Emanuel Eboue, Philippe Senderos, Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini all came of age in this last-16 tie.

Though many have questioned Wenger's purchases, prioritising youth over experience, there is no doubting their potential. They are still a long way short of the finished product, but fears that they would be found wanting on the biggest of stages have been well and truly allayed - their performances even encouraging Henry, at times this season a seemingly disinterested figure, to rise to the challenge.

Yesterday's quarter-final draw has just added to the Gunners' incentive to add the European Cup to their glittering trophy cabinet.

After all, what better way to prove that Wenger was right to let Vieira join Juventus than to send the runaway Serie A leaders spinning out of the best club competition in the world.

It is a task as daunting, if not more so, than that which lay before them in the previous round, but there are few now that would back against them finding a fitting way to end their association with Highbury as the wrecking balls prepare to move in.