The ball that had been hanging in the air finally came back down.
It bounced once on the wet grass and rolled towards the edge of the pitch, almost unnoticed now that the whistle had gone.
Around it, the players who had spent the last ninety minutes fighting for every metre finally began to let go of whatever they had been holding onto.
Arsenal's players dropped to the ground or bent over with their hands on their knees.
A few immediately turned towards Raya, still joyous about the save that had kept them from staying home without a point, as well as helping them become the first team to take points off this Wigan wonder team.
Across from them, Wigan's players stood scattered around the pitch, some staring towards the penalty spot, others with their hands resting on their hips as the reality of the result slowly settled in.2
Two goals each and a point apiece, after everything.
