After Kevin de Bruyne had expertly coaxed home yet another goal against Arsenal, those in red jerseys, almost to a man, hurriedly made their way over to Takehiro Tomiyasu.
In turns, they gave him a pat, a shake of encouragement, a hug, or whatever gesture they felt appropriate. The Japanese defender’s mistake - an ill-advised, underhit backpass - was the sort of error that, not so long ago, would have been met with a mixture of derision and anger by the easily-displeased Emirates congregation.
And what did they do on this occasion? They broke into song in support of Tomiyasu, even though many of them probably disagreed with his selection in the first place. And for now, that is one of Mikel Arteta’s most significant triumphs - he has created a sense of unity in these parts that has long been notable by its absence.
It will occasionally crumble - there were moments in the draw against Brentford when dissent bubbled over - but there is a genuine sense of all elements of this great football club generally pulling in the same direction.
Whatever happens this season, that sense of direction should underpin an era of competitiveness, at the very least. And in individual games, that togetherness can be priceless. Moments after his rick, Tomiyasu was emboldened enough to get forward and strike a decent volley over the bar.
They were fortunate to be gifted the chance of an equaliser by Anthony Taylor but Bukayo Saka still had to convert the penalty and does not look like missing. Most of that confidence is down to his own character but part is down to the support he has had from club, manager and supporters since that Euro final penalty miss.
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In the end - thanks to a serious second half flexing of City muscles - the Saka penalty counted for nothing on this occasion and after this painful setback, Arsenal’s younger players will again need support but they will bounce back, make no mistake.
Along with the defeat at Everton and the failure to beat Brentford, this is a shallow trough in a fine campaign. Don’t forget, this reverse was against an operation that can replace the outstanding Jack Grealish with Phil Foden late in proceedings.
Right now, the champions’ class is more established, more durable, but, for Arsenal, there was honour in yet another defeat to City. Even for the hapless Takehiro Tomiyasu.
