As William Saliba limped off against Sporting CP, you could have been forgiven for thinking the sky was falling. Social media air raid sirens began to whir and Arsenal fans rushed to duck and cover from the nuclear bomb that looked set to hit their title hopes.
Now the Gunners supporters aren't exactly known for their measured reaction to setbacks, but you could just about understand the panic this time. Saliba had been an ever-present in their run to the top of the Premier League and, alongside Gabriel, had formed possibly the best centre-back partnership in world football this season.
Almost a month later though, and Arsenal's title hopes are still alive and well. That is down to the efforts of a man many had written off long ago.
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The fear of putting Rob Holding in for these crucial matches in the run in certainly didn't come from his character. Aaron Ramsdale has described the 27 year-old as the "glue" in the Arsenal dressing room, and Mikel Arteta has convinced him to stick around at the Emirates on two separate occasions.
Instead though, for many it was the scars of last season's race for the top four. In the absence of Ben White, Holding had come in and done a decent job in some matches only to become embroiled in an individual battle with Heung-Min Son in a crucial North London Derby that ended with him getting sent off before half time. Arsenal would go on to capitulate in their bid to secure Champions League football for the first time in a decade.
Many still hadn't forgiven Holding for that night at the other end of the Seven Sisters Road. With each passing game though, he is slowly reminding his many doubters of his abilities.
The biggest compliment you can probably give Holding is that Arteta hasn't looked to change his style of play to accommodate the former Bolton man. In games against Crystal Palace and Leeds, and the first-half against Liverpool, the Gunners have continued to operate in a high pressing manner that leaves their centre backs highly exposed. With the full backs pushing on Holding and Gabriel have had to defend consistently in one-vs-one duels and in wide areas.
This is not Holding's forte, but he has risen to the occasion just as Arteta demanded from him. “Everybody has to give more,” the Spaniard said after his side's 4-1 win over Palace before the international break. “If we want to maintain that level, everyone has to step in, give more — and Rob is a great example of what we needed.”
Unlikely heroes have come in all shapes and sizes for Arsenal this season. Who would have thought that an away end full of Arsenal fans would ever be singing Jorginho's name? Who would have thought that Eddie Nketiah would be deciding matches against Manchester United this time last year? Who would have had Reiss Nelson down as the matchwinner at 2-0 down against Bournemouth?
As they seek to do something no one thought possible, Arteta has found a knack for getting things out of players that no one thought possible. In Saliba's absence Arsenal have hardly missed him, and that's due to the work Holding has done.
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