The decision is already reaping its benefits, but it has come with a potentially unpalatable side-effect. Some months ago, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain stopped the pills and injections that were keeping him on the pitch for Arsenal and looked to his body to heal naturally from the muscle problems that were a legacy of a knee injury from last season.

The time to recover from the pelvic problem has left Oxlade-Chamberain’s dreams of walking out against Aston Villa in the FA Cup final on Saturday in the balance. Missing only one Wembley showpiece would be bad enough, but a groin problem also caused him to miss the 3-2 victory over Hull City in last season’s final.

He returned to full training only last week even more keen