There but for the grace of God, Arsenal might reasonably say.
Had Alisher Usmanov been granted his wish and become the club’s owner, five years ago, it would have been the Emirates dealing with the kind of existential crisis which Chelsea now face. But Stan Kronke refused a £1billion offer from the oligarch, who has been sanctioned by the British Government. Reasons to be grateful to Kroenke are rare at this place.
So, from nowhere, an oasis of extraordinary calm here on Sunday and also evidence of football’s wonderful uncertainties as the progressive, attacking, expressive team Mikel Arteta is building advanced boldly into the Premier League’s top four.