Can anyone halt the rise of the Blue Moon?
Manchester City’s evisceration of leading challengers Arsenal felt more like a 6-0 than a 4-1.
So, if the gulf in class between the best and second best is so great, what does it say about the rest?
There’s a gulf there, too: Arsenal are 16 points ahead of both Newcastle and Manchester United.
The Magpies have two games in hand and the Red Devils have three, but still…
And for other would-be contenders, we are talking oceans: the Gunners are 22 points ahead of Liverpool and Spurs.
If we are already chuckling, we may as well have a good laugh: the gap with Chelsea is 36 points.
On the field, City’s supremacy in the English Premier League (EPL) is unchallenged as there’s no Liverpool to chase them down to the wire any more.
But this where football can wipe the smile off its face and the jokes about City beating themselves are no longer funny: because they may have already done so.
The 115 charges from the EPL about Financial Fair Play (FFP) rule-breaking amount to a herd of elephants in the room.
They may take a year or more to be heard but are serious enough to trample – even retrospectively – over City’s achievements if the club is found guilty.
On the other hand, they may be quietly dropped.
It’s unthinkable that trophies could be taken away at the stroke of a legal pen but if the evidence is such, what is the EPL supposed to do?
And there’s another way this era could end before it reaches that stage: if Pep Guardiola feels he’s done enough and wants another challenge.
Like Alex Ferguson and Sean Connery, he’ll be an impossible act to follow.
But back to the present and City look a good bet to emulate their neighbours’ famous Treble in 1999.
It’s not beyond the realms for a cussed Manchester United to find a way to deny them that honour.
But the pass masters in blue will be firm favourites in the first ever Manchester derby FA Cup final.
In Europe, too, they have ridden roughshod over the field, even Bayern Munich bowing to Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne.
Up next are 14-times European champions Real Madrid but the way City are playing, you feel they can even beat them, especially over two legs.
Long ago, it would have been typical of City to beat Real and then go and lose the final to either of the Milan teams (who make up the other semi-final).
And this thought should not be dismissed even now.
Much can still happen. There are seven league games still to play. Injuries can happen.
Even in the former textile capital of Manchester, there’s not enough cotton wool in which to wrap Haaland between now and the big games.
Despite City’s depth, you’d say the Norwegian, De Bruyne, Ederson and Rodri are irreplaceable.
In case we forget, this season had the rude interruption of the World Cup and both the FA Cup and Champions League finals are in June.
Yet look around and some players are already wilting.
Haaland benefitted from a mid-season break and still looks hungry.
Many other City players went deep into the tournament but are being nursed through.
Others like the lesser spotted Phil Foden are being kept on prison rations.
The biggest crisis City have had was when the alleged FFP infringements were announced.
But instead of derailing their season, it proved the making of it as Pep instilled a siege mentality since when they’ve become invincible.
But they’ve had a lot of help.
Arsenal have surprised themselves with their improvement. Newcastle, too, probably wouldn’t have expected to be in the top four so soon.
Manchester United? After the start they had, they’ll be pleased with two domestic cup finals and top four.
But Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea have had seasons to forget.
Liverpool are already in transition mode, but even if they do acquire the midfielders Jurgen Klopp wants (outside of Jude Bellingham), it’s unlikely to be an instant fix.
Manchester United will hope to build on this season’s progress under Erik ten Hag, but summer recruitment could be damaged by delaying tactics from the Glazers.
There are clear weaknesses to be addressed for which big bucks are required. Rivals may beat them to the punch yet again.
Newcastle could be one of them. If a top four slot is secured, as seems likely, St James’s Park will be able to offer Champions League football so we can expect an upgrade.
But whoever is brought in, it would be hard to see Eddie Howe’s side going toe-to-toe with City any time soon.
Chelsea appear to have landed one of the most eligible managers available in Mauricio Pochettino but he, too, will need time to sort out the mess at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs may have more points but they are further behind in the rebuild as they have yet to find anyone to accept what has become a poisoned chalice.
So that’s the Big Seven taken care of.
It’s City’s era alright, but it poses a dilemma for neutrals.
Whilst we want to salute one of the great English club sides, certain players and manager, we should be mindful that it may not last as long as it should. And of the reasons why.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.