Anthony Vickers: Boro were given a painful lesson but have to regroup ready for the promotion push

Boro were given a painful football lesson by awesome Arsenal but they left the Emirates Stadium with their heads held high.

There was to be no second coupon-buster - that was a dream too far.

Boro almost got a late consolation that may have helped sooth dented pride and bruised egos.

There will be recriminations from fans who feel the team let themselves and the fans down.

In truth, Boro were never in with chance as Arsenal played football from another planet.

They mesmerised us with some sublime stuff : the movement off the ball, the deft touches, the sublime intelligent interplay were all too much.

Boro never got a grip on the game in the way they did at Manchester City, but they were not allowed to.

They never had a chance to close down the Galacticos, never managed to impose their own shape or style on the unfolding game.

But despite the slightly sheepish exit after so much pre-match unaccustomed optimism and expectation, Boro’s cup run this term has still been a huge positive.

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It has made memories that have seasoned the bread and butter grind of the Championship campaign and helped feed into the feelgood buzz around the club.

Boro have taken three massive jubilant away days armies as the supporters’ belief has flooded back with huge turnouts at Oakwell, the Etihad and the Emirates.

The well deserved win at Premier League champions and petrodollar juggernaut City in particular will be a delicious memory that will pass into terrace folklore.

That was an “I was there” badge of honour kind of day.

At Arsenal Boro could not repeat that eye-catching display.

It was a game too far. And there’s no disgrace in losing to a team on such sizzling form.

But it was a trip that has whetted the appetite for future fixtures in the big league against star-studded sides and in fantastic stadiums.

It was a fantastic day out. And a lesson.

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These last two cup games have raised the bar on the pitch, demonstrating the gulf that Boro must bridge if they are to go up, survive and flourish in the Premier League.

And on balance Aitor Karanka’s outfit have acquitted themselves well. They have played City, Liverpool and Arsenal on their own turf in cups this season, three of the Premier League’s top four last term and won one, drawn one and lost one.

You’d take that next year. And the fan-tastic Teesside travelling army have acquitted themselves well too: loud and proud, quality and quantity, good natured and witty.

They have backed the team from before kick-off until long after the whistle.

There is a growing bond between team and town that has been strengthened by the cup run.

Now the team - and the fans - have to regroup and be ready to renew the push for a promotion that will seal that and make this a year to remember.