One of Arsenal’s revamped systems failed but another just about held up. If this season is to be a sinew-straining exercise in keeping pace with Manchester City then they got the first step more or less right, although a late wobble from nowhere was a reminder nothing will come easy.
The home crowd, many of whom were stuck outside before the game due to problems at the turnstiles that delayed kick-off by half an hour, could breathe easily and reflect that their team had played enough of the hits to breed optimism.
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