A breathless defeat for Newcastle, and another reminder that getting the job done - those final seven points - is the difficult bit.
So close, yet so far away, as Arsenal themselves know from their ailing, but still possible, title chase.
Can Newcastle get over the line, finish in the top four and reach the £80m riches of the Champions League?
That was a ridiculous question, a ludicrously lofty ambition back in August. But the bar has been raised. For this week, playing fantasy Champions League, picking the best group stage, is on hold.
The Premier League table is looking marginally less reassuring after only their second defeat in ten games, amid eight wins. Liverpool’s six game winning streak, means they are just three points adrift having played a game more.
They should be OK, shouldn’t they? Only memories of wilting at the final hurdle in the Carabao Cup final are still fresh. They are untested at this rarified level in the league for 20 years.
The margins were fine here. Martin Odegaard’s 30 yard grass cutter through Sven Botman’s legs a reminder of the ruthlessness needed at this top level. So too the sloppy defending that allowed Gabriel Martinelli a 50 yard unchallenged run before Fab Schar’s own goal.
But Newcastle still could have scored five. Jacob Murphy hit the post after 70 seconds, Alexander Isak rattled the woodwork after the break. Schar was denied by a one handed wonder-save from Aaron Ramsdale.
The chances to claw the game back came and went. Joe Willock twice shot weakly when a curler inside the far post was on. Granit Xhaka’s last ditch lunge blocked Willock from close range.
United had a storming early momentum ruined by a three minute VAR check, including ref Chris Kavanagh using the pitchside monitor, ruled Kiwior had not deliberately handled Bruno Guimaraes’ shot.
Howe’s men were stretching every sinew to score, and stay in the game, but so were Arsenal. It was high quality, and Newcastle just need to maintain their intensity at Leeds next weekend.
Touchline prowler Mikel Arteta glowered and oozed aggression, as did his team. Eddie Howe stayed away from the emotion that sparked their clash at the Emirates.
A plane circled low over the cauldron of football. “Free all Saudi prisoners…” it read, a message for the Toon’s owners.
Arsenal took none.
