Once the dust settled, three things were clear. Luton grace the Premier League and deserve to stay up; Ross Barkley is a thoroughly renascent central midfielder; and games such as this are the reason why England’s top tier makes such a financial killing from overseas television rights.
By the end of an often chaotic, always compelling, afternoon, Eddie Howe’s hopes of leading Newcastle on another European adventure next season were dented, Chiedozie Ogbene had delivered a masterclass in right-wing play and Barkley was celebrating another reaffirmation of an imperious talent many thought had faded for good.
