Clearly, there are times when this will not work out for Arsenal or for Tavares, who was signed from Benfica as a £7 million backup option this summer. At Anfield last week, he produced a gorgeous, defence-splitting pass for Liverpool striker Diogo Jota, who scored.

There are evidently more reliable options at Arteta’s disposal, namely Kieran Tierney. But Tavares has kept his place in recent games despite Tierney’s return from injury, and Arteta must have felt vindicated when the Portuguese opened up Newcastle’s defence for Saka’s goal.

Arteta had also kept faith in Albert Sambi Lokonga, another youngster who endured a difficult night against Liverpool. Lokonga was one of Arsenal’s most impressive performers against Newcastle, controlling the pace of the game and producing a series of terrific passes.

“You have to trust them and it gives them confidence even after difficult moments,” said Arteta of keeping the two new arrivals in the side. “If not, it is not real [trust]. They were given another chance and they have done it because they showed during the week how hurt they were after that defeat and how willing they were to put it right.”

It helped Arsenal’s balance as a team that Takehiro Tomiyasu offered a far more predictable dependability on the other side of the defence. If Tavares brings chaos, then Tomiyasu brings calm. The Japanese right-back is more steady in possession and less likely to rampage forward, although he also had a couple of wild shots from range in the first half.

Tomiyasu is primarily a defensive-minded player but he displayed his attacking vision by creating the second for Arsenal, scored by Gabriel Martinelli, with a delicate chip over the visiting defence.