At Audi Field on Tuesday, in a well-attended skills challenge, Kai Havertz had 14 goes at the cross and volley competition. He failed with all 14.
Fast forward 24 hours and when Marquinhos sent a cross to the far post from the right wing in the final minute of Arsenal's 5-0 win against Major League Soccer's All-Stars, Havertz steadied himself, controlled on his chest and smashed his volley into the far corner.
That's the thing about football. Deliver when it matters.
Evidently, there will be nights that matter far more than this for Arsenal.
Yet, on a sweltering evening, in front of a crowd in excess of 20,000 at Audi Field, the majority of whom were Gunners supporters and who cheered co-chair Josh Kroenke when he was introduced as part of the pre-match presentation party, Havertz was not alone in feeling satisfied with his performance.