Almost an hour into a tie that burned imperceptibly until its unlikely late combustion, Arsenal were treated to a glimpse of exactly who was in charge. They had won possession just outside Porto’s penalty area and Kai Havertz, advancing with purpose, saw a chance to play Gabriel Martinelli through. Instead the ball ended up with Pepe, gimlet-eyed and perfectly positioned. Seconds later he had carried it 30 yards up the pitch before sliding a precise pass through the midfield to Evanilson, sending the hosts away once again. There was a sense he could have done it all again with a blindfold.
On Monday, Pepe will turn 41. Blowing out all those candles may take more exertion than a pallid Arsenal attack demanded but that moment of authority, the brushing aside of nascent threat, the upright strut that has been a feature of elite football for two decades, spoke of the bigger picture.
