The Geordie faithful spent what seemed like an interminable summer of speculation praying that both Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak would still be with us when hostilities began once again and here was the reason why.
Gordon, playing outside-right because needs must, crossed early instead of taking an extra touch and whipped the ball deep and accurately into the heart of the Arsenal defence where Isak rose majestically between two stranded defenders to flick his header across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
Instantly my mind drifted back to Keith Gillespie going down the same wing and arrowing the ball onto the head of Tino Asprilla against Barcelona all those years ago. How it warmed the cockles of an old heart!
"1-0 to the Arsenal" used to be football's most famous chant but no longer my friends. Remember Mikel Arteta's meltdown a year ago when Gordon nicked our winner? Luvely wasn't it? 1-0 to us they days methinks.
How the big time glory seekers must hate to come up to Tyneside. We denied regular champions Manchester City two points with a 1-1 draw, beat Spurs, knocked Chelsea out of the league cup, and have now duffed up Arsenal.
Gordon had been linked daily during the close season with a return to his Liverpool roots while Isak'a 25-goal haul had admirers flocking round like bees round a honey pot.
Not least amongst his suitors was Arteta who has remained an admirer. How he must have wished Isak was a Gunner on Saturday because if they fail in their passionate pursuit of glory once again it will be down to them not possessing a centre-forward of Isak's grace and goal instinct.
United needed this _ brother did they _ after no PL victories in their last five matches and two points out of 15 which resulted in them sinking to a 12th place rating.
Inevitably as against another London side in the cup they produced a barrowload of super individual performances. Top of the pile for me was Gordon, as slim as a jockey's whip but with the resilience of a mighty oak and pace like fire. He is our poster boy.
However others can also take a bow _ Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall snuffed out what is normally an awesome threat on the flanks from the Gunners, Joelinton was a physical obstacle the Gooners perished upon, and Joe Willock powered midfield against the club where he grew up.
All of which brings me to Sean Longstaff who I call a 'dirty knees' player. By that I mean he is willing to do the often unseen ratting while others produce the Fancy Dan flicks and tricks. However every side needs a player like him. Is it a fluke that when Longstaff has started United have won six and drawn one of seven matches while without him in the starting line-up they have won only one, drawn two and lost three out of six?
Eddie Howe adopted a horses-for-courses approach against Arsenal recalling Dan Burn at the back to nullify the infamous set piece deliveries from their opponents which requires defenders brave enough to head the ball in a crowded area of elbows and flick knives. He went further and left out Sandro Tonali, a fan favourite who had his best game for the Mags in midweek, because he wanted to protect him from the physical exertions of three games in a week after his 10-month suspension.
Had United lost Eddie would have faced an inquiry about playing Burn ahead of Lloyd Kelly and not starting Tonali. Instead with three points in the bank he is a tactical genius!
United live on a pogo stick or a trampoline _ life is up and down. They reaped a huge harvest of 10 points out of 12 in the opening four PL fixtures (three wins and a draw) but then picked up only two out of the next 15 (two draws and three defeats) before reversing the trend again on Saturday.
What we have invitingly before us now is a run up to Christmas which is potentially kind. Yes Nottingham Forest away next is nowhere near as easy as perhaps we anticipated because they have risen from mediocrity with the considerable help of two former Magpies, Chris Wood and Elliot Anderson, but they don't terrify the life out of you. Afterwards in the PL it's West Ham (h), Crystal Palace (a), Liverpool (h), Brentford (a), Leicester (h) and Ipswich (a).
Only Liverpool are a stern challenge but will they look forward to coming here after what we have done to Man City and Arsenal? Not on your life they won't!
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