With the home side shorn of no fewer than 10 first-team regulars, one could be forgiven for having expected the debate over Everton's proposed move away from Goodison Park to take centre stage over a victory for the visitors.
But after a result which left the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger if not incandescent with rage then decidedly ashen-faced, not one of those in blue favours seemed even remotely bothered where their club's home will be come the 2003-2004 season for, like all good supporters, they opted to live for the moment, to rejoice in the achievements of today rather than concern themselves with the problems of tomorrow.
Bearing in mind a casualty list which features amongst its number Richard Gough, Paul Gascoigne, Duncan Ferguson, Francis Jeffers and Abel Xavier, this really was some achievement.
Afterwards, as he digested the unpalatable manner of his side's first Premiership defeat since the season's opening day, Wenger spoke of distracted minds, of carelessness and of squandered opportunities.
He did not speak of the dismal contribution of men like Dennis Bergkamp and Kanu, nor of the profound clumsiness of men like Ray Parlour and Robert Pires, but his reluctance to condemn those who had let him down was, perhaps, understandable for this morning he must lift shattered morale en route to Moscow and the reopening of his club's Champions' League campaign.
"Maybe our minds were already on the game against Spartak - if that was the case it is not at all acceptable," he said.
"It is a worry to drop five points behind Manchester United in the table. If you lose five points to Derby and Everton in successive games you must be concerned."
Wenger was probably not being disrespectful to Everton, but by refusing to concede that his own, admittedly weakened, team had been outwitted by a collection of reserve and fringe players, he was arguably guilty of dereliction of duty.
After a series of totally abject home performances, Everton were almost a revelation, full of running, nicely-disciplined and with sufficient guile - just - to claim a most deserved success.
Unlikely heroes in blue were dotted all over the place. From the Israeli Idan Tal on the left side of midfield to the unsung but tireless Mark Pembridge in the centre, the Everton team was awash with men who wouldn't even claim to be household names in their own homes and yet they coasted to victory.
"Their players get paid at the end of every month so I wasn't surprised to find that they could play football," said Wenger with his one nod in the direction of gallows humour.
In truth, a game which held more intrigue than it did smart football seemed likely to end goalless until Everton struck early in the second half, Danny Cadamarteri finishing neatly after Gary Naysmith's long pass had drifted over Arsenal heads.
The last word went to an old Gunner, Kevin Campbell steering home a rising drive after Cadamarteri's determination and muscle had undone a laboured Arsenal defence.
At the final whistle the old lady that is now Goodison rose as one to acclaim the most improbable of triumphs.
But, whisper it, her days are numbered.
EVERTON: Gerrard, Clelland, Naysmith, Weir, Ball, Pembridge, Hughes, Gemmill, Tal (McLeod 72), Cadamarteri, Campbell. Subs not used: Simonsen, Moore, Clarke, Osman. Booked: Gemmill, McLeod, Tal.
ARSENAL: Manniger, Dixon (Upson 79), Keown, Luzhny, Cole, Ljunberg, Bergkamp, Parlour, Pires, Kanu, Wiltord. Subs not used: Stepanovs, Lukic, Wreh, Vernazza. Booked: Dixon.
Referee: M Riley.
