Mikel Arteta was very much thrown in the managerial deep end at Arsenal following Unai Emery's sacking and his mid-season appointment.
He inherited a mis-firing Arsenal team, and with his minimal experience, was tasked with (eventually) turning the north London club back into a Champions League-competing side.
Arteta's start has been hit and miss.
He's undoubtedly steadied the ship, with the Gunners looking more assured at the back and leaking less goals than during the Emery era.
But Arsenal have recorded some very poor results under Arteta, including being knocked out of the Europa League in the round of 32 by Olympiakos.
Finding a style that works for Arsenal, and teaching his squad to play that way, will take the new manager some time.
As will getting to grips with the other aspects of the job, including dealing with his players.
Arteta's first test in this field came during Arsenal's warm-weather training camp in Dubai, where the players escaped to during the winter break.
During one session, the Spaniard became embroiled in an angry spat with young Gunners midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.
The argument continued back at the team hotel, and resulted in Arteta dropping the Frenchman for Arsenal's next match: a 4-0 win over Newcastle.
It has since emerged what Guendouzi is like behind the scenes at Arsenal.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Teammates 2.0 show, Sead Kolasinac explained that the young Frenchman enjoys having a laugh.
"Because he's young, he likes to do jokes. Every morning he's laughing, so for me Matteo," said Kolasinac, when asked to name the funniest member of the squad.
"He does a lot of bad things, I am not telling this for television. If I'm playing cards and I lose he comes behind me and (shouts) 'Ahh you lost!' Like this."
Guendouzi is clearly a popular character at Arsenal, but, due to his age, also appears to be a player who needs to be shown direction.
Arteta has acknowledged this early doors and subsequently put his foot down quickly while in Dubai, making it clear to the Frenchman that he is very much in charge at Arsenal.
It's important for managers to straddle the line between being liked by their squad, but also being respected and taken seriously.
Two men who are masters at this are Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
Both managers are approachable and friendly, but they also have an aura that inspires their players to give everything for the badge.
Arteta learned from Guardiola at Manchester City, and is no doubt looking to adopt a similar managerial style to the serial champion.
And the episode with Guendouzi - a man he is clearly keeping a close eye on - suggests he's
