In this comment piece, Guardian football writer Max Rushden reflects on moments of grace and skill in modern football, prompted by Arsenal striker Kai Havertz's dummy during a match against Chelsea, which he argues produced an instinctive, delighted reaction from onlookers. Rushden argues that such moments of effortless technique matter because they cut through football's increasingly frenetic, relentless pace, offering a reminder that elegance still has a place in the game.

Drawing on memories of hosting pandemic-era Zoom interviews, including one with former striker Dimitar Berbatov, Rushden explores the idea that certain gifted players make the sport look deceptively easy, citing Berbatov's first touch and Glenn Hoddle's famous dribble past Oxford United as further examples. He suggests this particular kind of languid, balletic skill, often associated with taller or bigger players, can be even more aesthetically pleasing than a mazy dribble from the likes of Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona, before turning to Havertz's dummy as the latest example of this rare footballing grace.