Newcastle United sent Arsenal 'reality check' as Eddie Howe backed for Manager of the Year

Having bounced from the bruising experience of Liverpool steamrollering their way towards multiple honours and Man City getting one eyed over their fourth title tilt in five seasons Newcastle must now confront further naked ambition.

Arsenal, once top of the Christmas tree when Arsene Wenger was Santa Claus, are now hell bent on clinching the Premier League's last Champions League place with all the monetary and glory gains that goes with it.

End of season and nothing to play for? Unfortunately no such matches have awaited United during their wind up of a momentous campaign. Burnley, desperately trying to cling to their top flight status, are last in line when everything could be on the line.

Nasty neighbours and party poopers Tottenham took apart Arsenal in the North London derby to ensure that the Gunners will come to Newcastle knowing only victory will suffice instead of being on the beach with their Champions League qualification confirmed.

Spurs are real spoilers. Having prevented Liverpool from gaining three points at Anfield and therefore almost guaranteeing Man City the title they turned over Arsenal to significantly reduce their chances of ending a five year exile from the Champions League. To think that between 1998–99 and 2016–17 the Gunners participated in 19 successive appearances in Europe's top competition, a record only surpassed by Real Madrid.

That was when Wenger famously called a top four finish the equivalent of winning a trophy. I bet Mikel Arteta agrees with his old boss now!

United know they have it all to do to bow out at SJP on a high but that has to be their target without question. Everyone deserves it - ever loyal flag-waving fans, players new and old who have United to breathe fresh life