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As Newcastle United slumped to a 4-2 defeat at Brentford in early December, there were a few dissenting voices fearing Eddie Howe had taken this team as far as he could. Oh doesn’t that look foolish now.
Fast forward to present day and, with just two top flight fixtures remaining, the Magpies are seeking to equal their best ever Premier League finish of second-place. Achieving that feat would conveniently mean dislodging former title challengers Arsenal in the process too.
There has been a smidge of bad blood between the Magpies and the Gunners in recent seasons, from the famous Anthony Gordon goal at St James' Park - and the lengthy meltdown that followed from the Arsenal fanbase afterwards - to the self-entitlement of those in north London who have continued to tout Alexander Isak with a move to the Emirates Stadium.
This, despite Newcastle United's hierarchy, Eddie Howe and the player himself all stressing that a St James' Park exit is not on the cards. Add the many antics of recent years together and there is an extra incentive for the north east outfit to overtake their European-chasing rivals as the finish line hurtles into view.
Newcastle travel to Arsenal this weekend hoping for a repeat of their Emirates performance - in the Carabao Cup - just a few months ago, with a win meaning the Magpies would enter the final game of the season above Mikel Arteta's men in the table. This, after beating them three times without conceding this term.
What a fall from grace for the mighty Arsenal. The team that was all set to end Manchester City's monopoly. The club who thought they were going to lift the Champions League. Instead, the north London outfit will end the campaign as the only 'Big Six' club not to reach a final this season.
Arteta, who has now gone five seasons without a trophy, was up to his usual tricks over the weekend, suggesting his side are yet to taste defeat against any 'top six' rival this term. This, despite that aforementioned trio of losses against Howe in recent months.
"Against the top six, I think we haven’t lost any single game – so that tells you as a team we are very, very consistent and can compete with anybody."
The Spaniard's previous run-ins with Howe and Jason Tindall will only add to the occasion this Sunday, with Newcastle travelling to the capital on a high after disposing of another Champions League-chasing rival in Chelsea over the weekend.
The motivation in the coming days, not that Newcastle's senior stars need any additional inspiration, should come from leapfrogging Arteta's side to quiet those suggesting Isak must make the move down south. United know they are a team on the up, while Arsenal's progress under their outspoken boss has flatlined.
Putting the final nail in Arsenal's disappointing campaign in the coming weeks would be the icing on the cake on a momentous season for the black and whites - and temporarily put to bed those suggesting Isak needs to jump ship on Tyneside.