It has been 27 years since this trophy was claimed by Arsenal, who have made it a showpiece for their next generation rather than something for the here and now. But the young ones are older, wiser and the club are moving on.
There was something more muscular, less vulnerable, than the performance of the young side eliminated last season after a breath-taking 5-5 draw at Liverpool – whom Arsenal may now meet in the 4th Round and Premier League within the space of a week.
This side run harder, cede less ground and it was hard to avoid the impression on Wednesday that Mesut Ozil is being consigned to their past.