Phew. Wednesday evening was edge of barstool stuff and I don't want a repeat in a hurry. The night's first contest was Greene King IPA vs. Extra Cold Guinness, almost as unpalatable a proposition as the footie that followed. I spent almost three hours nursing just one-and-a-half pints of the former; a lamentable effort, even from a normally pedestrian pint-an-hour man when the beer has considerably more taste and the conversation is stimulating.

Yes, I try to be an optimist but, unlike some, I get more nervous when I cannot determine or have any say in an outcome. It's a sad state of affairs that, again, we were competing with ManU in the remote control stakes in a London pub! Can you imagine that being an "issue" in a Manc boozer? Such is the brand that is ManYoo. Pity the first of Inter's two crossbar moments didn't go in, though it's good to have the Special One out. And I agree with the online editorial that the progression of all four English clubs at least p*sses off Platini, Blatter and, I would add, a few million other of Europe's anti-Anglophiles. We should never have gone in the Common Market.

Look again at Roma's goal. Specifically watch Gallas, particularly his right leg, which he withdraws from the line of the ball, allowing it to progress unmolested across our six yard box. The BBC website used the adjective "shambolic" to describe the defending and, for once, one cannot disagree with Auntie.

I feel almost as deflated after this penalty victory as I did after being outplayed for almost the entire 120 minutes at Cardiff in 2005. But this time we deserved to win overall and I feel frustrated that it came to this (penalties). Yes, we could and should have finished Roma off two weeks ago. And last night we had bags of possession in a way that the Invincibles NEVER achieved on European away days.

People remember and recall the 5-1 at Inter. I had dinner with a ManU-supporting friend that night, steadfastly refusing to watch Arsenal "roll over and have their tummies tickled", as I put it before the match. When another friend / diner came in late to say it was 1-1 at half time and that Arsenal were playing well, we quickly decamped to a pub serving Young's Special for the second half. But that performance was an exception. This team is capable of going away, keeping possession and creating chances.

After the 1-0 mauling of Roma last month, Alan Smith opined in his next day’s newspaper article that Arsenal would not get much further. After the bizarre 5-2 at Fortress Fenerbahce, the onlinegooner editor said there was no way we'd make Rome on 27th May. Perhaps they will both be proven correct but I continue to be a fully paid up member of the AKB club.

He ain't perfect but he's the best there is. We don't have £30m to splash regularly on a Berbatov, Rooney or Ferdinand, and for now, at least, we are in danger of continuing to lose our top players to bigger clubs, something of which ManU and Chelsea know little. But come 7th April, our squad should be stronger than now and no team will relish a two-legged affair against us.

Keep the faith.