While Rafa Benitez will be doing everything he can to guard against the prospect of his players switching off in the final five games, thoughts will immediately turn to what will happen on Tyneside during the summer.
The ownership of the club remains a subject of considerable uncertainty, while Benitez’s own future remains unresolved with his current contract due to expire at the end of next season.
Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley will be keen to tie Benitez down to a new long-term deal, but the Newcastle boss continues to insist he is in no rush to make a firm decision over his future plans.
“We will see (what happens),” he said. “Obviously, it is too early because we have just finished, but we have plenty of time to talk about ideas for the future. As I have said before, if everything is right, it is a good opportunity, but everything has to be right.”
Arsene Wenger felt his Arsenal side had done more than enough to claim what would have been their first league away win since the turn of the year, but conceded the Gunners are in a “negative spiral” that is proving extremely difficult to escape from.
“It’s a bit the story of the season,” said Wenger. “We had 70 per cent of the ball, were 1-0 up and in the end you lose 2-1 and you wonder how you can lose this game. That’s what happened. I think the game could have been over at half-time, but we conceded two goals from nowhere.
“Of course it’s a concern because traditionally we have a very strong record away from home. It has a subconscious weight in our minds. Once you’re in a negative spiral like that, it’s very difficult to get out.”