If Arsenal are to finally hold their nerve in a title race, then Mikel Arteta ought to spend the entirety of next summer writing notes of thanks to those who helped them through these weeks of goodwill. Own goals have been the gifts that keep on giving.
As with the home fixtures against Wolves and Crystal Palace in the past fortnight, this was a match assisted by the generosity of Arsenal’s guests.
To the names of Sam Johnstone, Yerson Mosquera and Maxence Lacroix, we can add Georginio Rutter for a contribution that proved more consequential than anyone imagined when he glanced a Declan Rice corner off his forehead and into Brighton’s own net for 2-0.