Ampadu played the full 90 minutes as the central defender in a back three. The Welsh international covered for his team-mates, and with plenty of defending required against a Milan side looking to bounce back from their European loss to city rival Inter, he was constantly in the right place at the right time to make blocks, tackles and interceptions.

In possession, Ampadu drove forward with the ball to get Spezia up the pitch and he looked typically assured with his distribution.

It was a welcome return to winning ways for Spezia, who had not tasted victory since March 10, ironically against Inter and also at the Stadio Alberto Picco. The result moves them out of the Serie A relegation zone courtesy of a better head-to-head record against Verona, both teams currently level on 30 points. Spezia have three games left and their next is away to Lecce, who are a place and two points above them in the table.

Colwill meanwhile returned to the Brighton starting XI and was rock solid in defence as they all but ended Arsenal’s title hopes with a commanding 3-0 victory in north London.

Lining up at left centre-back, Colwill’s performance earned praise from his manager Roberto De Zerbi. Responding to a question about Kaoru Mitoma displaying courage after being flattened by Gabriel Martinelli, De Zerbi chose to focus on his Chelsea loanee.

He said: ‘I think the best example of courage was Colwill in this game. We defended man-to-man and Colwill’s man was Odegaard.

‘Colwill went 90 minutes to defend with Odegaard 80 metres from Jason Steele. This is courage.’

No player spent more time on the ball at the Emirates than Colwill, and nobody had more touches or completed more passes than the England Under-21 defender. He also made a game-high five clearances and three interceptions.

Brighton are now sixth in the table with games in hand on those around them as they aim to secure European football for the first time in their history.