An atmospheric black and white clip of Arsenal’s players, entitled ‘Keep Believing’, was broadcast by Arsenal as denouement day dawned and seemed to capture the sense that the team was destined to wait longer for their glorious technicolour moment.
There was nothing monochrome and melancholic about the mood on the streets, though.
Only an air of celebration, as the Arsenal team bus was serenaded down Hornsey Road in the sunshine at ten to two and as the ‘North London Forever’ anthem was belted out before kick-off into a brilliant blue sky with an intensity which was remarkable, even by this season’s standards.