As the news reverberated around the world the second half was delayed here for a period of reflection.
Both sets of players faced each other in the centre circle and linked arms. The travelling Arsenal fans fell silent. An image of The Queen appeared on the big screen behind the goal at both ends of the pitch.
The stadium announcer confirmed the sad news we'd all expected. You could hear a pin drop in the away end as the Gunners faithful paid their respects.
The boisterous home end, a sea of flags with a party atmosphere in the first half, tried to do likewise but their attempts at a silence were punctuated by the boisterous fans who'd gone to the loo or grabbed a half-time drink and, returning, had no idea what was going on.
The Arsenal supporters, understandably, voiced their disapproval. Some Gunners fans were later heard singing the national anthem as a mark of respect.
In the scheme of things this Europa League group stage tie will go down as a footnote on an historic day. While our families were a home mourning a Monarch, another 45 minutes still had to be played.
It felt surreal. For the record, however, Arsenal’s young side - with seven changes from last Sunday’s defeat at Manchester United - deserved the win, having dominated from the outset.
New boy Marquinhos, making his debut, was Man of the Match, scoring a 16th-minute first and assisting for Eddie Nketiah’s winner. Young keeper Matt Turner was an assured presence in goal and Fabio Vieira, making his first start, was involved in the opener.
There is squad depth at Arsenal now. They are not the fragile, callow collection of kids and underachievers whose decent results last season, at times, flattered them.
They are not the inconsistent, L-platers who allowed Spurs to steal a Champions League place off them five months ago. This lot underlined the talent beyond the first eleven at the Emirates.
After early missed chances for Granit Xhaka and Marquinhos in the first 15 minutes, Vieira showed why the club invested in his talents.
On the counter, he sprayed a ball from just outside his own box out to the left. Eddie Nketiah raced on to his, centred early and Marquinhos rifled his diagonal shot past keeper Yanick Brecher and into the top corner.
Zurich equalised three minutes before the break when Nketiah upended defender Fidan Aliti in the box at a corner. Centre-back Mirlind Kryeziu rammed the spot-kick home.
But Nketiah made up for the aberration in the 63rd minute when he peeled off to the back post to head home a terrific, deep cross from Marquinhos.
Brecher in goal should have done far better. But Arteta won’t care and, frankly, it really doesn't matter.
