The first indication of how Unai Emery planned to approach this meeting against one of the most swashbuckling Premier League attacks came an hour before the match on the team sheets, which showed that Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all starting.

Against the opponent known a year ago for having a ‘Fab Four’ in attack, Emery had unleashed his own quartet of attacking stars.

It was the first time this season that all four had started in the same team, and it is therefore fair to say that Emery had saved his most attacking team for a match against the division’s most frightening attack. This was going to be bold, front-foot football.

It worked, too. Arsenal played with an unfamiliar aggression and an unusual verve. They played for their manager how he wants them to play, with intensity, speed and purpose.

Emery saw clear evidence of his team’s progression and more proof that they are growing used to the new head coach’s demands.

Of course, it takes more than energy and intensity to stifle this Liverpool attack, and at times the gap in quality between the two sides was large. There are similar gulfs between Arsenal and the technically advanced duo of Manchester City and Chelsea, the two opponents to have defeated them this season. Yet for every moment of joy enjoyed by Liverpool, there was a moment of similar encouragement for Arsenal.