There had been times, even at such an early point in his Arsenal career, when the unrelenting scrutiny that accompanies a price tag was a visible millstone around Kai Havertz’s neck.
Manchester City won the UEFA Super Cup for the first time in the club's history after defeating Sevilla 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw in Piraeus.
This time, there would be nobody else to blame. Not Pep Guardiola or Robert Lewandowski or Uli Hoeness or the referees or the authorities.
Deep into eight minutes of added time the ball fell to Reiss Nelson, Arsenal’s man for a fairytale moment, and the Emirates fleetingly braced itself to do it all again.
Joselu, the man who waited 14 years for a Spain call-up and then scored twice within three minutes of coming on for his debut, has gone and done it again.
Tottenham relived their nightmares at Anfield. There was a repeat of the Newcastle ordeal, ticket refunds due again,
Milan reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 16 years, after surviving a barrage of pressure at Napoli on Tuesday, thanks to a first-half goal from Olivier Giroud that secured a 1-1 draw and 2-1 aggregate success.
For Manchester City, it was the crowning glory, the trophy they have craved to complete the ultimate set.
When Kevin De Bruyne made it 3-0 for Manchester City early in the second half, his second goal of the evening an almost casual finish, there were four Arsenal players in the vicinity who bent forward at the waist, utterly broken, simply wanting to take on a bit of oxygen. This is what it feels like to run into a juggernaut.
Todd Boehly’s belief didn’t last long. Stopped outside the restaurant where both clubs’ directors had lunch before this Champions League quarter-final first leg,
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