The defining moment of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal reign beckons.
When Mikel Merino swept Arsenal’s third past Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois he did more than cement the best night in the history of the Emirates Stadium.
In securing such a commanding lead, Merino raised the stakes, guaranteeing that glory or catastrophe awaits in the return leg in the Bernabeu; Arsenal are standing at a crossroads leading towards folklore or ignominy.
Progress, and Arteta will have the most prized scalp of his tenure and legendary status will be within his grasp. In such circumstances he will probably spend the next few years committing his future to Arsenal as Madrid’s rivals Barcelona try to lure him back to his spiritual football home.