Arsenal host Manchester United on Saturday with Mikel Arteta looking to put some of the problems of the past behind him.
Not just issues that have afflicted the club this season, but also failings that have festered at the Emirates since the latter years of Arsene Wenger's reign.
The Gunners face United on the back of an impressive attacking display against Southampton which earned a fifth win in their last six Premier League games.
That run has propelled Arteta's side back into the top half of the table following a dreadful start to the season which highlighted the club's long-term decline.
Back in 2018, Wenger stepped down as Arsenal boss, having delivered three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during a 22-year spell in the hotseat.
But the Gunners had failed to finish in the Champions League spots for the second season in a row - and still haven't since - while they hadn't won the league in 14 years.
In the weeks before Wenger's departure, Roy Keane said Arsenal were lacking characters and leaders compared to their title-winning teams.
And the Manchester United legend claimed they had become a soft touch compared to the team he faced in his playing days.
"In my time, we knew they were going to be the toughest games of the season," Keane told ITV.
"The Arsenal teams had a lot of power, pace, character, leaders and lots of quality.
"They were producing brilliant, winning football. You look at the Arsenal teams over the last few years, still a lot of pace but no characters or leaders so they are missing out on the top prizes."
Since Wenger stepped down, Arsenal have finished fifth under Unai Emery, and eighth last season after Arteta took charge of an ailing side in December 2019.
Arteta of course led them to their first silverware in three seasons when his side lifted the FA Cup last term.
But criticism of a lack of leaders remained last summer and persisted late into 2020 as the Gunners lost a shocking 10 of their first 14 Premier League games this term.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyeng, the club's captain, suffered a drop-off in form after signing a bumper new three-year deal.
Senior players such as Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and summer signing Willian also came in for criticism, while Nicolas Pepe still struggled to justify his huge transfer fee.
However, it is a different Arsenal team that welcomes United on Saturday - as evidenced by Tuesday's win over Southampton.
Thomas Partey is settling into the midfield and Arsenal's attack are benefiting from his progressive passing - while Xhaka looks a different player alongside the summer signing.
Pablo Mari impressed in defence before his recent injury, while Rob Holding has looked largely assured as Arsenal wait for Gabriel Magalhaes to have the desired impact.
Lacazette has found form again, having fired five goals during his last six games - and then of course there is Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, who have been instrumental to the Gunners' recent mini-revival.
The win at St Mary's was even achieved without Kieran Tierney, who was Arsenal's best player when results weren't going their way - with Cedric Soares having performed well in his stead.
Arteta must contend with injuries to some big players ahead of the game against United, with Partey, Tierney, Mari and Smith Rowe all racing for fitness while Aubameyang could be out for personal reasons.
He will hope to have at least some of those players back for the clash at the Emirates.
United have their own issues after poor defending saw them suffer a shock defeat to Sheffield United on Wedneday.
And a result for Arsenal against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's title hopefuls will go a long way towards indicating that Arsenal are starting to look forward, not back at their past problems.
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