The television cut-aways to the enclosure housing the Arsenal supporters perfectly captured the anxiety. It was not supposed to be like this, not against this Manchester United. But the lesser spotted acceptable version of Erik ten Hag’s team was on show, fighting for the badge, and Arsenal were made to suffer.
Leandro Trossard scored their goal midway through the first half after a United defensive malfunction – of course it was – but the advantage was slender and everyone knew, most of all Mikel Arteta, that it could take only one moment to rub out.
