Players and staff clap the fans following the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United FC
Well, at least it is now crystal clear. One Premier League game to go and Newcastle United know exactly what is demanded of them to make more dreams come true. Fear not, all is not lost, it is still very much in Geordie control.
Maybe the intense scrap for Champions League qualification is overall as confusing at Hampton Court Maze - five teams from third down to seventh are separated by nothing more than a point. Two must taste bitter disappointment.
However to heck with it. If United beat Everton before the faithful on the final day of the season, and they are favourites to do so, the big prize is theirs helped if necessary by a superior goal difference. It is as simple as that. Forget the rest. Having lost by a single goal to Arsenal or not United are still driving the bus.
Unless Newcastle turn out to be Devon Loch (look it up if you don't know under Grand National 1956) and fall in the home straight then the double of Carabao Cup and Champions League will be all ours. In the real world anywhere from third down to fifth carries exactly the same prize.
However let us please have Alexander Isak back to help secure the final three points. No Alexander is not so great when it comes down to firepower. Callum Wilson again proved that work must be done on back up in the summer.
What was exasperating at the Emirates was that United dominated the opening 45 minutes but couldn't score. David Raya saw to that. Maybe his kicking was poor, even shocking, but he produced superb reflex saves from Bruno Guimaraes, Harvey Barnes and Dan Burn to deny United their deserved reward. Wilson meanwhile failed to come up with a shot.
What was then worrying is that United fell off dramatically as they did against Chelsea after running the show first half. Sure, they rallied late on when a goal down but by then it was too late.
Big players make matches and it could be argued that the outcome swung on the team sheets. United were without Isak while Declan Rice returned for Arsenal and sure enough he got the breakthrough goal.
Anthony Gordon inexplicably gave the ball away in the left-back position with sloppy control. Bukayo Saka played it to Martin Odegaard who found Rice and he struck it as sweet as you like past Nick Pope. Less than an hour gone and the match gone.
It was Arsenal's first goal against United in four games but it was a killer. After all the work that has been done this season it would be tragic if United blew up now.
Twice before the turn of the year United sank as low as 12th in the table but as of this moment they are third and the holders of their first domestic trophy in 70 years. Their squad is stretched to almost breaking point but one last huge effort is required then the flip flops can come out along with the sun lotion.
Tired limbs, battered and bruised, can take a much needed rest while the team behind the team _ United's recruitment staff _ take centre stage needing to perform as well as the PL players alongside Eddie Howe have done.