His goal was a beauty, arrowed low past the dive of David Raya and into the bottom corner from range. Crucially, it came moments after Maresca had sent on Mykhailo Mudryk for Madueke, allowing Neto to switch to his preferred flank. Arsenal switched off and were slow to recognise the new threat as he drifted infield onto Enzo Fernandez’s pass.

This season’s trend of every Chelsea line-up having at least one interesting or unexpected wrinkle continued against Arsenal. This time it was the benching of club captain Reece James after two pretty positive Premier League showings at left-back, with Marc Cucurella restored to the side in his place.