Arsenal didn't get the miraculous result against Barcelona that Arsene Wenger had hoped would provide a boost for the rest of the season.
But what they did get were two individual performances that provide a cautious sense of optimism heading into the Premier League run-in. Mohamed Elneny and Alex Iwobi were given their first Champions League starts for the club in the toughest conditions possible and both showed they belonged.
With the misfiring Gunners needing some kind of rejuvenating spark from somewhere -- anywhere -- as they try to revive their faltering title challenge, that duo could play a bigger role going forward.
Elneny's inclusion in the starting line-up was a necessity. Arsenal have six midfielders injured, meaning the Egyptian will have to shoulder the box-to-box role until either Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey or Jack Wilshere return to fitness.
Picking Iwobi, on the other hand, was a gamble by Wenger. The 19-year-old has yet to make a start in the Premier League, but his recent FA Cup performances were enough to give him the nod on the right wing ahead of Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell.
Wenger sees Iwobi as a future star and so maybe wanted to give the teenager some big-game experience in what was already a lost cause, but it's more likely he viewed Iwobi as a type of X Factor, an unknown quantity who could surprise Barcelona's defenders with his blend of size, strength and pace.
And it nearly paid off as Iwobi showed no signs of being intimidated by his famous opponents and helped to create a number of chances for his teammates. He also had a first-half penalty appeal waved off after Javier Mascherano seemed to clip his leg lightly as he was running into the box.
In fact, Iwobi didn't show his youth until after the game, when he talked about the experience of playing at the Camp Nou.
"It's crazy, playing against the best players in the world," he told the Arsenal website. "It's a young man's dream. Especially at the age of 19, I never thought I would be here playing against the likes of [Lionel] Messi, Neymar and [Luis] Suarez. I'm just happy to be here. ... I just wanted to go and prove to the world what I can do. I wanted to see if I could match up to the best in the world. I was buzzing when I saw the starting lineup; I couldn't wait to touch the pitch."
Elneny, 23, is more used to the big stage, having played against many of Europe's top clubs during his three-year stint at Basel, including a Champions League clash against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Egyptian seemed right at home at the Camp Nou. He has hardly set a foot wrong in a limited number of appearances since joining Arsenal in the January transfer window, but Wednesday was the first time he showed off the full range of his abilities.
Elneny worked tirelessly to help shield the back four against Barca's vaunted attack and made a number of key interceptions, but still had enough energy to push forward in attack. He should have done better with a first-half chance but his finish for Arsenal's goal was exquisite, as he received a pass from Alexis Sanchez just outside the area and curled a shot into the top corner.
It was his first goal for the club and his long-range shooting ability could be a much-needed weapon that Arsenal can use to help stretch defences.
"I'm happy with my performance today, but not that happy about the result," Elneny said. "We're still up for the league. We need to focus. We still have nine games to go and, God willing, we can do it."
Arsenal need to overhaul an 11-point deficit on leaders Leicester in those nine games, which appears a difficult task for a team that have won just one of their last eight matches. And regardless of what happens during the run-in, fans are likely to scream out for new big-name signings in the summer to help the Gunners rebuild.
Given that Elneny was bought for just £7 million and Iwobi is an academy product, neither is likely to pacify frustrated supporters, who want big names to come in. For now, though, they're the best hope Arsenal have for some short-term rejuvenation.