Mikel Arteta has overseen one of the most turbulent chapters of Arsenal's modern history since his appointment as head coach on December 20, 2019.
The Spaniard has had to deal with with a global health crisis, contracting Covid-19 himself, winning the Gunners a record-14th FA Cup in front of no live spectators, pulling Arsenal out of their worst form since the 1950's to name but just a few things.
While the pandemic altered Premier League football in a way nobody could have anticipated, some of the subsequent traits that followed may have actually helped Arteta in his first ever role as manager of a club.
During the tail-end of 2020, Arsenal were in the midst of their worst form for decades, losing at home to the likes of Leicester City, Aston Villa and Wolves - had fans been in the crowd for those fixtures, the pressure may have told on the Gunners hierarchy, forcing them to make a decision on their manager.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Has Arteta been a successful appointment? Comment below
Alas, the voices of discontent were restricted to venting their feelings on social media, where Arteta nor Arsenal's board have much of a presence.
Remarkably, not for one second did Arteta himself look particularly burdened by the pressure that was undoubtedly piling on - frustrated and angered by results yes, but the Gunners boss never adopted a demeanour that suggested he knew he wasn't up to the task.
Stern in his post-match press conferences, Arteta was honest in his assessment of the squad's failings but has quickly sort to rectify those issues in the transfer market last summer.
One running theme of Arteta's tenure has been discipline, Arsenal fans were left salivating over his first press-conference after his appointment where the former Man City assistant discussed his 'non-negotiables' every player must adhere to.
Arsene Wenger's kindness was often mistaken for weakness among players towards the tail-end of his reign, while Unai Emery failed to garner the full-respect of every player in the dressing room.
One name in particular stands out in the form of Mesut Ozil, who Emery went to war with only to see himself sacked before Ozil was ousted.
Arteta on the other hand, was victorious in that particular battle, exiling Ozil from the team come 'Project Restart' before getting rid of him altogether in the January transfer window.
That move alone should have laid down a marker to the rest of the squad, given Arteta was willing to cull a former teammate from the side - yet not every player seemed to learn that lesson.
Matteo Guendouzi's temperament saw him sent on loan to Hertha Berlin, where he encountered similar attitude problems before a second loan spell at Marseille.
The young Frenchman barely lasted under Arteta, with the Gunners boss having very little patience for his petulance.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the latest star in Arteta's firing line, though with good reason given the 32-year-old has fallen foul of his manager's rulebook a number of times.
The Gabon international clearly did not learn from when he was dropped for the north London derby having arrived late to a pre-match team meeting.
Aubameyang returned from a mid-season trip to France later than originally planned and subsequently had the captaincy stripped of him, exiled from first-team training until after the Africa Cup of Nations at the earliest.
By taking such drastic measures, Arteta sends a message to the rest of the squad, the overwhelming majority of which are still in the early stages of their career.
Transmitting that kind of statement to talented, impressionable youngsters ensures they recognise consequences follow unacceptable behaviour.
For a number of years Arsenal have been accused of being too soft in just about every metric, whether it be on the pitch or in the dressing room.
If Arteta has achieved nothing else, he has instilled discipline among his players that will create a better morale moving forward under his stewardship - for however long that may be, will likely be decided come the end of the season.
