They are a superstitious lot, football people. So the sight of a player called Vieira scoring for Arsenal in an imperious performance that returns them to the top of the table is going to have a lot read into it.
Yet why not? Here was another display that suggests Arsenal have the mettle to contend, and certainly the strength to finish in the top four and return to the Champions League, qualities that used to be taken for granted under Arsene Wenger. So at the very least Mikel Arteta has them edging towards former glories, even if few are seeing beyond Manchester City and Erling Haaland for the title, no matter who leads .