At the time we did not realize it, but Arsenal 0, West Ham 2 on the opening day of the season was a sign of things to come for both clubs.
Arsenal, we had mistakenly believed, would push on from being a serial third- or fourth-place finisher, and make a realistic title challenge. West Ham would . . . well, be West Ham, ending up mid-table despite the arrival of Slaven Bilic as Sam Allardyce's successor.
Normal service was soon resumed with the Gunners, who are, as usual, doing what it takes to finish third or fourth for the 11th consecutive year as Leicester and Tottenham are involved in the most unlikely of challenges to be champion of the Premier League. Arsenal travels to Upton Park Saturday to play a West Ham team with not a comfortable half-way position in its sights, but Europe — maybe even the Champions League.