Ange Postecoglou had warned Tottenham of the dangers of hanging their noses over the garden fence and becoming obsessed with what the neighbours are building.
‘You could both have the worst houses in the street,’ he said ahead of the north London derby, but Postecoglou will realise there is plenty to admire about what Arsenal have designed.
And, as they danced and sang in the sunshine in front of the away end, it was hard to escape a feeling there might even be lessons Spurs can take if they study the transformation of their closest rivals during four years under Mikel Arteta.