It was Mikel Arteta's attempt to make a slightly early departure from the Emirates after the 2-0 win over Leicester City last month which provided a glimpse of what the club seems to be returning to.
The Audi he was driving up Hornsey Road was besieged, presaging a rapid two minutes of autographs before the traffic light ahead changed and he moved on.
The smile on his face reflected the mood of an afternoon in which his young, substantially English side had displayed something frequently overlooked in football. Contentment.
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'They are having a good time together,' Arteta had said before leaving.