It was tense, it was physical, it was loaded with drama and storylines and that was before the momentum in this Premier League title-shaper had swung again away from Arsenal just before half-time.
No team does them quite like Arsenal these days. Now the lines of the contest were redrawn once more. We were into the seventh minute of first-half stoppage-time and Leandro Trossard, already on a booking, had fouled Bernardo Silva.
Arsenal kept their 10 men behind the ball. It was difficult to remember them crossing the halfway line. But it was only about them withstanding the pressure.
If that took in the dark arts time-wasting, players going to ground with cramp then so be it. Could the meanest defence in England preserve the slender advantage?
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