When former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher suggested Arsenal were morphing into a "Jose Mourinho team" he meant to compliment the club's defensive resilience and set-piece prowess.
But, intentional or not, contained within his September critique was a twinge of doubt about the viability of a defence-first mantra in the modern age.
Three months on, amid accusations of overreliance on corners and squandered chances, of streamlined attacking tactics and a stodgy midfield, the Mourinho comparison feels both increasingly apt and unwanted.
Wednesday's win over rivals Tottenham, thanks in part to another one of those set-piece goals, left the Gunners four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool to keep them right in the hunt.