The whistle split the night air like a starter's gun as Havertz stood over the ball, drawing in a slow breath that misted faintly in the cool Madrid evening.
His eyes met Odegaard's for the briefest moment — a silent confirmation — and then his boot nudged the ball backwards.
The second leg of the Champions League quarter-final had begun.
At first glance, it was a safe start.
A pass rolled behind to the security of black shirts, with red, green and white stripes on the sides, as if Arsenal intended to set their rhythm before venturing forward.
But there was nothing safe about the sight of Real Madrid suddenly rushing to meet them.
The press hit like a wave.
White shirts darted in from every angle, cutting off passing lanes before they had even properly opened.
Boots slammed the turf as the Real Madrid players moved with the intent of a wrecking train.