Don't blame Arsenal for fighting back.

What's been one of the major criticisms of the team in recent years? Ok, there's been a few - profligacy in front of goal, over elaborate build-up play etc., but one that always sticks in the mind is that we, apparently, don't like being roughed up.

We don't have any physical players, so the line would go, since the likes of Vieira, Keown and even Grimandi left. Put in a few late tackles, don't let them play, and they'll soon roll over. This strategy even preceded the departure of some of these players: the end of the unbeaten run at Old Trafford saw a concerted and vicious attempt by the United players to kick us out of the game. Ruud v Nface raked his studs down Cashley's knee, while the treatment meted out to Reyes by the 'special' Neville brothers jars me to this day. Jose was never the same player again in England.

So, finally, after several seasons in which we've been accused of being nothing more than lightweight artistes, Arsenal starts to fight back. We're like the quiet, yet brilliant, kid in the classroom who suddenly starts to return the punches that the bullies have being throwing for too long.

Too many teams for too long have tried to defeat us by kicking us off the park. We've seen the strategy four times this year already: in the pre-season friendlies against Ajax and Inter, and in the last two matches against Fulham and Sparta.

And in each game, the Arsenal team has done nothing more than justifiably stand its ground and defend itself vigorously against aggressors.

All fine, until this is published. Apparently 'Sport lost' on Wednesday. The gist of the article seems to be this: despite Repka verbally claiming, repeatedly, before the game that the key to beating Arsenal was to 'kick them', Cesc's challenge on Repka which saw him leave the field of the play, was the moment that 'Sport lost' out.

Really? I would be inclined to take the opposite view. Instead of allowing another team to crudely destroy the way we play, the Arsenal side on Wednesday took matters into its own hands and ensured that they would not be intimidated. If this means a thug such as Repka gets an injury, I won't lose any sleep. He barely deserves to be called a 'footballer' in any case.

So Cesc is a spiky character. So what? Was Zidane any less brilliant for his headbutt? Great players are often aggressive, especially when they have been subject to physical intimidation for much of their careers.

Violence for violence's sake is obviously abhorrent. But aggression to counter the unjustifiable physicality of other teams, to protect the way your team plays, and to ensure that violence as a tactic doesn’t succeed is another matter. On those latter occasions, standing up to be counted should be applauded, not condemned.