Even so, it is hard to fathom just how the youngster had remained impregnable for 350 minutes of league football. There is a wide-eyed naivety to Schmeichel's approach at times which is understandable for someone so young. His fragile frame makes him appear vulnerable whenever crosses veer into the area, and his indecision within the six-yard box can occasionally prompt panic even in the resolute Richard Dunne and Micah Richards.
Yet the reality is that the Denmark Under-21 international did everything asked of him here when Arsenal eventually found their range to the extent that he even saved a penalty from Robin van Persie. The saves summoned thereafter had his father nodding in appreciation in the stand. "He's not flash, he concentrates very well and that's the key to being a good goalkeeper," he said. "You need to be reliable to your team. The Arsenal game was a good example because a very tired City team relied on him.
"They trust him. That's the best thing you can do as a goalkeeper. In the last two weeks I have played a big part with Kasper but only because he was playing United and Arsenal. I've been talking to him about playing in big occasions. I'm just trying to keep his feet on the ground."
His approach appears grounded enough with his reaction at the end, head buried in the turf in disappointment, suggesting as much. He will have accepted some culpability for the goal he finally shipped, thrashed beyond him at his near post by the excellent Cesc Fábregas from an awkward angle. Richards had perhaps permitted the Spaniard too much space in which to summon such venom for his shot, though Schmeichel would have expected to have blocked the attempt.
Eriksson will not be adding a goalkeeper to his ranks ahead of the closure of the transfer window on Friday but that is because he hopes Isaksson is nearing a return from a broken thumb rather than on the youngster's emergence. The City owner, Thaksin Shinawatra, however, did confirm more money will be spent this week.
"I don't know whether his inexperience would eventually cost us, but the way he works and behaves, he doesn't look 20," conceded the former England manager. "I've never had a first-choice goalkeeper this young before. He's not as tall as Petr Cech but he is quicker. He has to be cleverer but he hates to see the ball go into the net."
His disgust was Arsenal's relief. This was a far better performance than Eriksson's side had mustered conjuring an unlikely victory in the derby with United the previous week and both Martin Petrov and Emile Mpenza might have secured the visitors a lead before the hosts found late bite. Arsenal were their usual blend of the entrancing and the infuriating. They were slick and inventive venturing forward, the slippery Alexander Hleb and Tomas Rosicky gliding menacingly down the flanks, and thrilled with their rat-a-tat approach play.
Nevertheless the first shot summoned on target was effectively Van Persie's penalty just after the hour, by which time plenty of the home fans were despairing as they hollered for an effort at goal. Schmeichel's save - the referee's assistant had flagged for the penalty to be retaken after the goalkeeper encroached from his line, only to be ignored by Chris Foy - actually served to spur the hosts on with a flurry of subsequent chances eventually culminating in Fábregas' ferocious finish.
Eriksson forecast that last season's top four would re-establish themselves at the summit again this season, though Arsène Wenger was more wary, his mood hardly improved by Michel Platini's proposals to grant the fourth Champions League place to the FA Cup winners. "The team that plays 38 games and finishes fourth deserves it more than a team that has had six good games," said the Frenchman. "I don't understand what is behind that thinking. But, personally, I feel it will be harder than ever to finish in the top four. It will be more open because more investors have come in - West Ham are ambitious, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Everton are strong." City were not mentioned in that list, though they have served notice of real quality.
Man of the match Richard Dunne
The Irishman was again outstanding, his presence clearly engendering confidence in Micah Richards at his side. It was cruel on him when City were eventually pierced.
Best moment The block on Tomas Rosicky's second-half shot, though there were many timely challenges.
Their starting line-up at the Emirates Stadium contained three Englishmen, two Irishmen, a German, Spaniard, Belgian, Brazilian, Bulgarian and a Dane. If you are Eriksson, he would have you believe that it was a Great Dane.
Pass and move is a long-forgotten phrase in the Premier League, but any team who attempt to play Arsenal at their own game are either brave or brainless.
Eriksson has built a team who are easy on the eye and put finesse ahead of brute force, style above strength and discipline over the staple diet of discord and discontent that City's supporters have become accustomed to over the past 30 years.
So what happened with England, then?
"That is history, it is over," said Eriksson.
Let sleeping dogs lie and all that. Well, at least this team are alive and kicking.
They were top of the table when they arrived at Arsenal and although Eriksson suffered his first defeat as City manager, he has assembled a team who could be within touching distance of the top four when the trophies are handed out in May.
"We didn't come to Arsenal to sit back," said Eriksson. "We want to try to play football. I don't have a team that can kick, I have footballers.
"We have some tough central defenders — Micah Richards and Richard Dunne — but we want to play.
"I saw City only on television last season, but I knew that Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha were good players."
Dunne, who has undergone a quite remarkable summer transformation, and Richards, are the backbone of the team.
They breed confidence for such as Elano, Vedran Corluka, Javier Garrido and Martin Petrov to unpick the opposition but Arsenal, at home, were their equal.
Cesc Fabregas's special strike 10 minutes from time separated the two teams, but Arsenal were given a thorough workout.
"Richards and Dunne were outstanding," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
"I must say I was really impressed with them. Players like Michael Johnson and Stephen Ireland are good players.
"Those four could play in any team, but they have added some good players to the squad. Elano was good, he can always create something and Petrov is the same, but we kept him quiet.
"If you can find 11 top players who want the same thing then it doesn't matter which country they're from. When you are top level, the most important thing is that you want to make the most of your talent.
"To find that blend is not easy, but then you have to create a common culture. You can create that when people come from a different country, but it is easier when people come from the same country."
That will certainly never apply to any Arsenal team selected by Wenger.
Famously, he never checks the passports of the players when he signs them.
Gilberto, recalled to the side as a lastminute replacement for the injured Philippe Senderos, burned as bright as a Belisha beacon at the heart of Arsenal's defence and Manuel Almunia, making his first Premier League start since a 3-0 victory over Liverpool in November 2006, will give Jens Lehmann a run for his money when he returns from injury.
Nine nationalities, from Brazil to Belarus, Cameroon to Croatia, eventually found a way through when Fabregas latched on to Alexander Hleb's pass and the Spaniard beat Kasper Schmeichel.
City's keeper has a growing band of admirers, not least his illustrious father Peter, and his penalty save from Robin van Persie appeared to have earned Eriksson's side a point.
"There were shades of the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay about his save, when Schmeichel Snr saved brilliantly from Dennis Bergkamp, but he can consider himself unfortunate to finish on the losing side.
Beaten at last: Schmeichel can't bear to look after Arsenal's late winner
Schmeichel Snr, who confirmed that his son has desires on a place in the Denmark national team and will spurn any advances from England, said: "If Kasper wants my advice he asks me, but otherwise I leave him to it.
"In the last two weeks, I've played a big part but only because he has been playing against Arsenal and United. I've been talking to him about playing on big occasions.
"It's not my intention to become a coach or an adviser, I'm just trying to keep Kasper's two feet on the ground.
"He's not flash, he concentrates very well and I think that's the key to being a good goalkeeper. You need to be there and be reliable to your team. They trust him.' So does Eriksson and even though they slipped off their lofty Premier League perch, the weekend was not all bad.
Despite the setback, City are still above rivals United. And that's all that counts.
ARSENAL (4-4-2): Almunia 7; Sagna 6 (Denilson 19min, 6) Toure 7, Gilberto 8, Clichy 7; Rosicky 6, Fabregas 7, Flamini 7, Hleb 7; Adebayor (Eduardo 75), Van Persie 6 (Song 87).
MANCHESTER CITY (4-4-2): Schmeichel 7; Corluka 7, Dunne 7, Richards 7, Garrido 6; Ireland 7 (Ball 87), Hamann 6, Johnson 6, Petrov 7; Elano 6 (Geovanni 75, 6), Mpenza 6 (Bianchi 75, 5). Booked: Hamann.
Man of the match: Gilberto.
Referee: Chris Foy.
Adebayor has spoken about his partnership with Robin van Persie and how it can make up for Thierry’s absence and then some.
