Mikel Arteta’s balancing act keeps Arsenal’s nerves in check – for now

A fter the chaos and cavorting came the cold-blooded calculations. Nobody of an Arsenal stripe was in a rush to let the headiness of Saturday’s momentous comeback against Bournemouth subside but, when it did, the fretfulness that lurks just beneath the surface of most clubs’ fanbases reared its head.

The rest of their campaign may come to resemble a Europa League sandwich and, with the precious gift of an improbable five-point lead in the Premier League looking too delicious to relinquish, the question was predictable: would it not be better for Mikel Arteta to ditch any quest for continental honours and go for broke at home?

Arteta has already said that he will not sacrifice a tilt at Europe and, judging by the lineups he fielded in the group stage, it would be wise to take him at his word. They have not travelled light for their first knockout tie of the year. Arsenal arrived in Lisbon with a strong squad and assertions from their manager that winning is infectious. “If we play well and are able to win the game, for sure we’ll be able to prepare better for the next game,” he said, indirectly referring to the exacting test that should await at Fulham on Sunday.

The opposing schools of thought both make sense in their way. The brickbats would rain down if Bukayo Saka started at Estadio José Alvalade in the last 16 first leg against Sporting, as he probably will, and sustained an injury with far-reaching consequences; Arteta prefers the conviction that momentum can never be too intoxicating and believes the quest for a first European trophy in 29 years can further invigorate their title chase.

Part of the logic for retaining a healthy number of regulars is that fielding essentially separate sides for league and cup