Arsenal won as many points for beating Sheffield United 5-nil as they did beating Man City 1-nil.
And yet, it feels like the win against City was worth so much more. Psychologically, emotionally, dramatically, tactically. Any myriad ways the game is looked at, beating last season's treble winners seems so much more valuable. Still, 3 points is all that is rewarded.
Football is littered with these dissonant situations. A striker missing a chance seems less consequential compared to an error by a keeper that can much more directly impact the result. Two strikers may have scored the same amount of goals but the one with more from open play, compared to the other from mostly penalties, seems somehow more worthy of praise.
In my life time there have been several wins worth more than others, defeats more painful than others and mistakes more costly than others. The dejection of that Champions league final defeat to Barcelona in 2006, the agony of the Szczesny and Koscielny mix up at Wembley in the League Cup final that handed Birmingham City the win all felt so much more raw. Conversely, the come-back win against Hull in the FA Cup final, 2014, was worth way more than the glory of winning the trophy. It was the end of that drought, it was the monkey off our back, it was Wenger's vindication.
Given one of the biggest criticisms thrown at Arsenal during this fallow period since we last won the league has been not beating the top teams, it's easy to see why such wins, like the recent one against Guardiola's Globetrotters, carry so much more weight. However, doing a professional job and working hard to beat teams of all ability in the league is a must now City have created so little room for error.
Perhaps more than the result itself, a highly valuable part of Arsenal's victory against Sheffield United was being able to rotate the team selection and then withdraw a few more key players during the game once the result was beyond doubt. Being able to do either may be what cost Arsenal the title last season. It won't guarentee a title this season but at least shows the club, Arteta and the players are pacing themselves for a marathon, not a sprint.
Given the difference in perception of this victory against Sheffield, compared to City, it's no wonder that many will say, 'it was only Sheffield United' who, despite obstinate performances against Spurs and Man City, have looked totally out of their depth so far this season. Even before the game, the nature of the opposition meant the concourse in the ground wasn't as raucous (even the fans raise their game for the big fixtures).
This is a shame because the quality of Nketiah's hat-trick is worth celebrating. The touch for the first, the strength for the second and the audicity for the third mean the wuality of the hat-trick was exceptional. Eddie is a striker often maligned by Arsenal fans. He's a very very good part of what should be a potent front line. First choice? No, but a valuable asset to a squad growing in strength.
When stepping back, every win matters when the bar has been set so high that even a couple of defeats all season can scupper any thought of a title race. A 5-nil win against struggling Sheffield United will never compare to the win against Abu Dhabi behemoths Man City. Some wins are bigger than others.