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Finally, a moment to exhale. As the Arsenal winger shot low and hard past Kostas Tzolakis to complete a somewhat nervy 2-0 win, the sound from the home crowd was closer to a tired, relieved exhalation than a celebratory cheer, with the sense, finally, of a midweek putting-to-bed.

This was a game Arsenal always looked like they were winning, despite seeming to realise this somewhat prematurely in the piece facing determined and spirited rivals. No team draws the harsh and critical gaze as much as this Arsenal team, for which a deep roster, the supposed crime of assembling a championship-caliber side, is the latest crime in the record books.

Yet on occasion it’s essential to get the job done. From the start the Emirates felt like a workaday place, an extension of the rush hour high street outside the bright stadium lights, the city’s hustle, nine to five football, a necessary task as we head now toward that part of the year where the evenings darken early and the season really starts to shift gears.

Beyond the win, two interesting things happened here for Arsenal. Martin Ødegaard completed the full match. Meanwhile the Swedish striker went the distance as well. They did so in differing ways. The captain shone, even during spells when Arsenal were not, and this is important: 84 touches, multiple attempts, a key pass, a series of exquisite balls, subtle touches, intelligent cues. He truly stands as a lovely player to watch when he’s in this form, part feather-footed artist, part furiously unforgiving press-machine, veering about like a drop of water in a pan of hot oil.

Gyökeres was Gyökeres: powerfully direct, charging across the pitch from start to finish as if pursued by a herding animal. Yet he also intrigued because he represents evolution, different patterns, and to wanting more. And there are points to be digested at this stage, albeit this match didn’t fully provide them.

The skipper excelled when Arsenal were not.

This was the second team owned by Evangelos Marinakis the Gunners faced in the past few weeks and Marinakis was duly present in an expensive casual top and California vice squad silky blazer, appearing as someone who at any given moment is heading toward a motor yacht, has just got off a speed boat, or is currently on a boat, preferably surrounded by a group of ponytailed men over a soft metal soundtrack.

A few amusing incidents unfolded early on. José Luis Mendilibar, the excitable Greek side’s coach, became embroiled in a dispute with the match official, a imposing figure, like the bouncer at the door of a club exclusively for security personnel. Down the left flank Ben White, 6ft 1in, guarding Daniel Podence, 5ft 4in, had vague take‑your-dad-to-school vibes. And for a while this seemed to turn into a stroll, with an early strike created by Ødegaard and Gyökeres. It was a beautiful thing, a delicate touch then a powerful finish.

First the captain made a clever move, gliding into a half-space between midfield and defence, dodging a defender then playing a perfect pass between two grey shirts into the run of the striker. From that point, the powerhouse took over, Gyökeres basically ran through two defenders, before blasting a shot at the keeper. As the ball trickled towards goal the Brazilian attacker attempted to let it cross the line, then smacked in the rebound off the post.

This showcased Gyökeres at his finest, who often doesn’t look like a very good basic footballer in this company, but doesn’t appear bothered, or feel cowed. The opponents played physically against him following the score. He was shoved and jostled repeatedly. He got up, returned for further action.

The striker is a unique specimen, in this team, with that distinctive way of running with the ball, less about close control as knocking it ahead and then running after it, like a Great Dane chasing a beach ball. He’s a battering ram. Yet this is acceptable. The team previously lacked a bludgeon in the past.

He must improve, quicker to shoot, more precise when the competition narrows. However, this is noteworthy, since the striker remains the sole element of this revamped lineup still waiting to click.

It’s not yet time to relax: that moment will arrive following the weekend fixture, but Arsenal can now at least prepare accordingly and recharge briefly.

It always looked like the fall schedule would divide into two separate phases. The initial segment is now completed. A busy run of matches, including key rivals, Liverpool, league sides, title contenders and Newcastle, and concluded here with a tricky night versus the domestic title holders.

At the end of that the statistics show: seven victories, lost one, one tie with multiple shutouts. There are also unseen positives. Goals spread all over the team, and just a single goal allowed from open play. They have cover for Saka, cover at the back, alternatives in midfield. Best of all Mikel Arteta has shown dynamism, adapted in real-time, has been impressively fluid and urgent with his patterns in the recent matches, in a time of self-hobbling systems fetishism elsewhere.

This isn’t the start of a new era. This is not even the end of the beginning. But the next eight games are, broadly speaking, a decent run relative to before, with multiple domestic matches that look winnable and the European competition now under control. All things being equal, and with Ødegaard zipping about once again, there is a sense here of credit being squirrelled away. And almost, though not entirely, time to take a breath.