Arsene Wenger had complained before this game about Premier League players taking a premature holiday but on Tuesday night, for what could just conceivably be his penultimate home fixture as Arsenal manager, it was many of the club’s own supporters who took a break.

Sunderland manager David Moyes promptly rejected Wenger’s claims about teams relaxing their focus as an “insult to footballers”, yet the more damning verdict was still delivered by those Arsenal fans who stayed away.

They could no doubt recall matches this season against West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Liverpool when Arsenal themselves looked absent.

The turnout also underlined how it is barely the actual managerial record of Wenger that matters any more. Even neutral fans are probably familiar with the statistics that are quoted endlessly back and forth.