Message received loud and clear. For Arsenal to retain any realistic chance of being crowned this season's Premier League champions, they will need to beat Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
In truth, this has always been the case for Mikel Arteta's side so the target ahead of kick-off at St James' Park hasn't changed. But after Manchester City eased to victory over Leeds United, it's the only result that can keep the title race firmly alive - even if the ultimate outcome feels inevitable.
Despite making seven changes to the team that started the 3-0 win over West Ham United in midweek, thus resting John Stones, Rodri and Jack Grealish among others, Pep Guardiola was still able to recall the likes of Ederson, Aymeric Laporte, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.
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Those decisions simply highlighted the strength in depth the Spaniard has at his disposal and an area where Arsenal must improve for next season, regardless of what happens in the title race.
Although to freshen up his side to that degree was possibly a huge risk on Guardiola's part. After all, Leeds arrived at the Etihad Stadium having made a managerial change and Sam Allardyce talking up a shock result to do the Gunners a favour and boost his new club's chances of avoiding relegation.
"It's probably my biggest challenge because of the shortness of games that are left and the difficulty of those fixtures," he said at his unveiling. "We start with an easy one on Saturday. It can't get any easier than Manchester City away, can it?! It is a big challenge that the players have to take on, that I have to take on, and we'll go to Manchester City and do our best to get a result.
"It has been done, Brentford did it. Shocks happen, whether one happens on Saturday, who knows. I wish it was a bit less challenging but we have to face what we have to face.
"The first thing I did when I looked at the fixtures was I thought they could've been a bit kinder. We have to create a shock so hopefully we can shock a few people in the Premier League by getting the results we need to stay up. I hope we can find six points from the four games.
"Far too many people think I'm old and antiquated, which is so far from the truth. I might be 68 and look old but there's nobody ahead of me, in football terms - not Pep [Guardiola], not [Jurgen] Klopp, not [Mikel] Arteta. They do what they do and I do what I do, but in terms of depth of knowledge, I'm up there with them."
But Allardyce wasn't able to get the better of Guardiola as Ilkay Gundogan netted a brace in the first half to leave Man City on the brink of being crowned Premier League champions for the third successive season, with this result leaving them four points clear at the top of the table.
So it's over to Arsenal to respond against the Magpies. Of course, a win won't be enough to reclaim top spot but anything less than all three points on Tyneside would effectively put City - because of their superior goal-difference - within two more wins of continuing their recent dominance of English football.
Ever since the Gunners endured a run of three straight draws and a defeat at the Etihad Stadium to cede control of the title race it has felt like Man City have had one hand on the Premier League trophy. Today's result strengthens that belief and only an Arsenal win over Newcastle at St James' Park can offer hope of a twist before May 28.
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