Cesc Fabregas discussed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta back in 2020 and insisted he would be a good fit for the Gunners as the players were "fascinated" by him.
Two years on, Fabregas' assessment appears to have rung true as Arteta has guided Arsenal five points clear at the top of the Premier League table with just 13 games of the season left to play. While the title is still up for grabs and by no means a foregone conclusion, the fact that the Gunners boss has got the youngest team in the division this far is a remarkable feat.
Arteta was appointed as Gunners boss in December 2019, replacing Unai Emery in the Emirates hot seat in what was the former Arsenal midfielder's first-ever management role. His only prior coaching experience had come as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City.
Speaking in late 2020, Fabregas revealed his optimism over what the future had in store for Arsenal with Arteta at the helm.
"They have a new project, I believe what Mikel [Arteta] is doing is nice," the 2010 World Cup winner told the Daily Mail.
"The players are fascinated by how he came in and changed the training ground, the methodology, how he prepares for games. He makes it easier for his teams to understand how to attack, how to defend - I like his ideas, all I'm hearing is positive."
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Fabregas' assessment is eerily accurate, with the current crop of Arsenal players seemingly hanging on Arteta's every word having fully bought into the project he is overseeing.
Since taking charge, Arteta has worked wonders for the dressing room but it has not always been easy. The Spaniard has been forced to do battle with some huge names, both Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been exiled before eventually being kicked out of the club altogether under Arteta's watch.
Nowadays, the Arsenal dressing room appears a far more harmonious place, though a place where Arteta's word is clearly final.
Just last month, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale sang his manager's praises with comments that certainly support Fabregas' original remarks.
"He galvanises the squad a lot just by his demeanour and his attitude," Ramsdale told the Michael Calvin's Football People podcast.
"The will for him to want to do well and win comes out in us. His enthusiasm on the training pitch around the place and his empathy, as well, is possibly a massive thing for myself.
"Everyone has different things going on outside of football and without putting himself in front of you too much, he will understand and knows about everything. He takes time to speak to you and finds out what's going on."
