Newcastle United are doing more than just keeping up the pace with the Premier League's top four - they are now pretty much setting it.
The 3-0 win over Leicester meant that for a couple of hours on Monday night, the gap was down to just four points between Newcastle and Arsenal. The Gunners - in the eyes of some of their fans - are simply enjoying their ride at the top of the Premier League after so many seasons falling behind.
But Newcastle are aggressively pushing to not only stay where they are, there is a feeling in the camp that they can have a bigger say in the title race than many believed was possible. After 16 matches and with one match left to play, Liverpool are the only side to have beaten Eddie Howe's team.
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For now the only aim is to sign off from 2022 in winning style with a victory over Leeds at St James' Park on the last day of the year. Win that and title talk will be unavoidable as the square up to table-toppers Arsenal.
Ayoze Perez's 'What if?" moment
The former Tenerife striker made his name at Newcastle but decided to leave in 2019 to join Leicester because he wanted to win something - and he did in 2021 as he lifted the FA Cup.
And the harsh truth is, nobody could blame him at the time as he left during the Mike Ashley era when there was zero ambition to win trophies at St James' Park. Still just 29 though there must have been a part of him that wondered: "What if?" as he came on as sub against his old club during the 3-0 loss on Boxing Day before watching his former team-mates lap up the appreciation from the away end.
There were a few boos as he entered the pitch but overall his 48 goals were appreciated during a five-year stint at Newcastle. But as the Toon players were serenaded at the end of the game at the King Power Stadium, Perez may have felt he'd love to be part of that sort of thing once again.
James Maddison gets a taste of what life could be like
Maddison has been linked with Newcastle for a while and Eddie Howe even admitted that the England international was a player he admired only on Friday. The winger is expected to be offered to Newcastle again in January with Brendan Rodgers knowing he may struggle to keep him.
With the ex-Norwich star out injured, the cameras panned on Maddison with his current side 3-0 down. After seeing a £50million bid knocked back you wonder what it would take to get Maddison this winter.
He certainly got a box seat of how good things can be at Newcastle from the wonderful support levels to the way Howe has his team set up. It's certainly a system Maddison will feel he can relish in.
Best form in 11 years for Magpies
The victory at Leicester took the unbeaten run to 11 matches in the Premier League for Eddie Howe's side. And that's the best since Alan Pardew in 2011 when his team had a great start to the campaign and went on to finish fifth.
Newcastle now have the chance to better that at home to Leeds on New Year's Eve.
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