In the ninetieth minute, Mikel Arteta lastly needed to begin having fun with himself. Arduous work, sacrifice, struggling: more often than not, these are the muse stones of the Arteta methodology. You’re employed, you struggle, you endure, and for those who’re fortunate you get to do all of it once more in 5 days. Even within the closing phases right here, as Arsenal gleefully toyed with Tottenham and the Emirates lapsed into calypso mode, Arteta had misplaced none of his skittish focus: nonetheless urging his crew ahead, nonetheless whirling his arms spherical and spherical like a broken toy.

However as Kieran Tierney let fly from distance, virtually scoring a spectacular fourth on the demise, one thing in Arteta lastly broke. As he turned to his bench, he melted right into a broad, shimmering smile. It was the second he realised – presumably the final man within the stadium to take action – that after 13 lengthy days of ready and worrying, of operating by the permutations of this sport time and again in his thoughts, the whole lot was going to be fantastic.

If you find yourself working at Arteta’s rarefied stage, these moments are vanishingly scarce. The week is consumed by technique and nervousness; the day itself disappears in a torrent of emotion and adrenaline. By Monday, perhaps earlier, the glow of victory has already given approach to the following factor. Bodø/Glimt on Thursday, Liverpool subsequent Sunday. Lose these two and also you’re again in disaster. Sorry, these are simply the foundations.

So these are the moments that have to be cherished. Not as an announcement of intent or as a stepping stone to the place you wish to be, however as a triumph in its personal proper, a fleeting outbreak of enjoyment in a world that appears intent on making you depressing, even a vindication of types. And whether or not they win or don’t win, this has maybe been the best achievement of Arteta’s Arsenal thus far: the power to develop happiness.

There are lots of variations between Arsenal and Tottenham proper now, however maybe this feels probably the most fundamental of them. Do Tottenham genuinely look as if they’re having enjoyable? Outcomes have been good. There’s a system, a technique, a plan, a collective buy-in, 5 shouting Italians on the bench to implement order. However with the attainable exception of 20 lawless minutes in opposition to Leicester, there was valuable little pleasure to them.

You may argue that that is the Antonio Conte means, and he has the medals to again it up. Tottenham completed above Arsenal final season enjoying a really related sort of soccer, and should but do it once more. However which of those two golf equipment would you relatively be supporting proper now? Which aspect would you relatively play in? Whose arm would you relatively have draped round your shoulder within the heat aftermath of victory?

To an extent it is a matter of private style, and definitely the divergence right here made for an enchanting conflict of kinds: Arsenal’s high-wire attacking act in opposition to Tottenham’s high-wire defensive rearguard. You felt, on some stage, that that is what Conte’s Tottenham need. The claustrophobia, the shut contact, the pheromones of hazard. They attract tighter, clench like a fist, after which punch you with it.

For some time, it labored. After going an early aim down, Harry Kane’s penalty in opposition to the run of play felt like the perfect platform for a Tottenham housebreaking. So what do you do in these moments? You belief the method. You belief that for those who create sufficient stress, hold taking dangers, ultimately you get what you got here for. And while you do it feels all of the extra satisfying, as a result of in a means it’s a reward to your religion.

And actually, this entire challenge is one big leap of religion. If Tottenham have taken a sharply pragmatic flip in recent times, Arsenal have spurned it like a treacherous pal. The place may pragmatism have gotten this Arsenal crew? Pragmatism means you ditch Granit Xhaka a few years in the past. Pragmatism means you give Nicolas Pépé as many possibilities as he wants. Pragmatism means you signal an skilled worldwide goalkeeper relatively than the man relegated with Sheffield United. Pragmatism means you strategy these video games in a spirit of warning. Pragmatism means you sack Arteta after final season’s begin. In reality, pragmatism means you don’t rent Arteta in any respect. Pragmatism will get you Max Allegri. Which, to be honest, plenty of Arsenal followers needed on the time.

There was no assure that any of this might go proper. There nonetheless isn’t. However perhaps that half doesn’t matter simply but. For as autumn solar dappled the pitch and the stands shook with music and Arteta took his curtain name in entrance of the North Financial institution, you bought the sensation this was a reminiscence that will stick: a second of grace and communion as valuable as any silver pot.