At 18, Kobbie Mainoo treated his full England debut with a youthful insouciance that bordered on outrageous. One-on-one with Amadou Onana, he had no shortage of options, with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham rushing in to provide support. Who best to call on? In the end, the teenager chose neither, instead nutmegging the Everton midfielder with disdain. It was this irrepressible spirit that explained why Gareth Southgate had integrated him so quickly into the seniors. And it was his sheer energy
Football is always the same sport, but in the Champions League knockout stages it is so often a different game. A different feel, a different flow and a different test for sides like Arsenal, who arrived at this level of Europe’s premier competition with almost zero experience of football played, and officiated, like this.