There may well be over two-and-a-half months left of Premier League football with 11 matches to play but Arsenal have their sights elsewhere. All but through in the Champions League to the quarter-finals, Mikel Arteta's side only have meaningful fixtures until April 16, for now.
That can extend towards the end of April and then the start of May. If all goes well, Arsenal will play in the last game of the European season on May 31: The Champions League final.
With the domestic title race running out of road early following a defeat and a draw earlier this month whilst Liverpool show no signs of slowing down, Arsenal's priorities are clear. Arteta won't and can't admit it publicly but he has all his eggs in the Champions League basket now.
No FA Cup or Carabao Cup progression means that it is Champions League or bust. The good news is that a quarter-final spot is sewn up. PSV Eindhoven would have to produce the most unlikely victory, perhaps ever, to get through at the Emirates Stadium next week. Realistically they enter knowing it is about damage limitation.
Matches against Manchester United and Chelsea to come are still important, and Arsenal won't want to drift into the top four/five scrap by any means, but they should be able to coast through to a second-place finish, concentrating on the real prize left. In that sense, Arsenal's season really boils down to however far they no go in Europe.
They can pencil in for a trip to Madrid in the last eight, where they will play one of Atletico or Real. Unsurprisingly, a large wave of supporters have already booked hotels and flights out before they go up in price. Some may well have done the same for Munich and the final, but that is much further down the line.
Arsenal know that they will not have a natural striker for the rest of the season, but are finding answers. If Martin Odegaard keeps performing to the same level as he did here then there is every chance that Arsenal cause all remaining competitors problems.
Ethan Nwaneri is the real star of the show as he continues to replace Bukayo Saka on the right with increasing ease. Declan Rice produced one of his most impactful all-round performances in the Netherlands and is among the best in the world in that sort of mood.
Arteta also knows that Arsenal can be tired and uninventive when things don't click. Missing a striker has proven costly in the Premier League title race, but narrow victories or even ground out draws are more valuable in a knockout environment.
This makes the return of Saka something to keep an eye on. Arsenal are hopeful that he will be back after the international break along with Gabriel Martinelli - who has been selected to play for his country later this month as well in an indication that things are headed in the right direction.
Both Saka and Martinelli will plan to be back to match sharpness by April 9, when the quarter-final first legs are due to be played. Arsenal can be almost certain of their place against one of the Madrid sides as they play host before travelling away one week later to complete the tie.
They are a better team with both wingers available and it will also open up Nwaneri to a more natural and withdrawn midfield role if needed. Having the 17-year-old as an option off the bench is also a luxury.
Then there is Ben White. He is ahead of his attacking teammates and has been on the bench in recent weeks. He is yet to start since being ruled out for more than three months with a knee problem. White was used off the bench in the second half against PSV.
Arteta can now carefully manage White's gradual build-up of game time as well. The three are all arguably in Arsenal's strongest XI and will pose new questions of any opponent later in the Champions League. Having gotten through to this stage without them as help, kicking on with their involvement is the sort of boost that Arsenal's rivals are unable to match.