Patrick Barclay: After a hollow victory, it's time for the real test for Arsenal

Chamberlain — Neville, not Oxlade — came back from Munich with a piece of paper. Arsene Wenger returned with a warning to the Premier League and yet another message of hope on behalf of his latest, and possibly least exalted, team. Both require a bit of flesh.

The Arsenal manager described the Premier League’s elimination from the Champions League as "a wake-up call", adding that the domestic competition needed to rethink its future. If he meant that fixture planners — ie television — should take into account time for preparation for European fixtures, Wenger is right.

The question of whether Arsenal can use the hollow victory over Bayern as a springboard to fourth place is more clouded. How much should we read into last night’s incongruous performance, during which they committed 25 fouls and Gervinho executed a penalty-area spin reminiscent of Thierry Henry in his prime?

It cannot be put in any sort of context until Saturday, when Wenger’s men are at Swansea for a fixture that could make or break their fourth-place quest.

Michael Laudrup’s team are certainly capable of inflicting crucial damage — they proved it in winning 2-0 at the Emirates (even though their FA Cup side were knocked out in a north London replay).

Wenger’s approach to this very big match will be interesting. Arsenal might dig in and hope for a gritty win on the model of last night and the 1-0 at Sunderland. Although the manager has his principles, the first, I’d guess, is that the club should have the best possible chance to qualify for Europe’s top competition next season.

To challenge Swansea to a football contest might be seen, in these circumstances, as dangerous. In the eyes of many admiring observers, Swansea have stolen Arsenal’s clothes. So Arsenal may have to dress for the occasion.