Monday marks two years to the day that Mikel Arteta was appointed as Arsenal boss.
The Spaniard, who finished his playing career in north London, was lured back to the Emirates from his role working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City to succeed Unai Emery to try and improve the Gunners flailing fortunes.
Although fans were enthused by the swoop for Arteta, his appointment represented a gamble for a club that have slowly slipped away from the Premier League 's top table since Arsene Wenger stepped down in 2018.
That was something Arteta himself recognised - and he was keen to stress to fans the enormity of the project that lay ahead after his return to the club.
"We all know there is a lot of work to be done to achieve that but I am confident we'll do it," said Arteta after he was unveiled in December 2019.
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"I'm realistic enough to know it won't happen overnight, but the current squad has plenty of talent and there is a great pipeline of young players coming through from the academy."
Although it hasn't all been plain-sailing for Arteta since he fired that warning, his words have slowly started to come to fruition this year.
Despite finding himself under intense pressure earlier this year after Arsenal made their worst-ever start to a league season, he's steadied the ship and managed to ensure the Gunners will wake up on Christmas Day comfortably perched inside the Premier League's top four for the first time in five years.
For that, Arsenal have a host of young stars to thank - just as Arteta predicated when he was appointed.
The revival has been led mainly by Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe; two Hale End graduates who have excelled under Arteta's tutelage.
The Gunners hierarchy also deserve credit for the way that they've backed Arteta in the transfer market, with the club spending over £150million in the summer to bring in the likes of Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and Martin Odegaard to compliment the club's bustling young academy graduates.
Gabriel Martinelli is the latest exciting Arsenal starlet to break into the team under Arteta in recent weeks. The Brazilian has had sporadic tastes of senior action before, but his run in the team this time feels different. It's hard to see how he can be left out after his stunning brace in the 4-1 win over Leeds at the weekend.
Martinelli and Smith Rowe, who currently tops the Gunners scoring charts, have stepped up to lead the way for Arsenal in recent weeks after Arteta was let down by more established stars, such as former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
As impressive as Arsenal's youngsters have been, there's still plenty of work to be done.
A Champions League spot definitely seems to be in reach for Arteta's side this term, but heavy defeats in a host of clashes against the Premier League's elite highlight just far they are from competing at the top end of the table on a regular basis.
Arsenal's 4-0 drubbing against Liverpool last month followed on from a 5-0 humiliation against City earlier in the season that left Arteta clinging to his job.
But those results should represent the significant chasm that still remains between Arsenal and the Premier League's title contenders after a decade of decline rather than being regarded as a blot on Arteta's copybook.
That isn't something that's capable of being amended in just two years - not by anyone.
And although Arsenal fans may feel aggrieved to be in that position after they cemented their spot as one of English football's top dogs at the turn of the Millenium, in reality, that's where they are right now.
Arteta's reign hasn't been perfect, not by any means, but he deserves credit for the job he's done to get Arsenal back into top-four contention.
It's no mean feat considering the mess that Emery left the club in - and fans should be enthused at what the next two years could bring if he's afforded the same time and patience that he's been given so far during his Arsenal tenure.
