The here and now outscores everything in football and obsesses Unai Emery in games. He is focused on actions, outcomes, details on the pitch, and does not watch while thinking “the future is coming”. Yet in moments it feels impossible for the mind not to wander and conjure visions of a bright Arsenal tomorrow. Even Emery must have glanced towards that glow in the 19th minute at Anfield eight days ago. Even he had to look beyond the tame endpoint of a move — a Nicolas Pepe strike straight at Adrian — to the rich promise its build-up had expressed.

It started with Dani Ceballos’ pass that Joe Willock accepted just beyond the ‘D’ of Arsenal’s box. Fearless, he set off dribbling. Roberto Firmino made