Mikel Arteta was under serious pressure at the start of this season when his Arsenal team lost their opening three league matches.
After spending money on the likes of Ben White and Albert Sambi Lokonga in the summer, the Gunners had expected a much better start to the campaign.
Arteta had been facing significant pressure from the end of last season after the Gunners finished outside the European places.
He needed a good start to this season to show that he can affect the necessary changes.
However, after three losses from the same number of league matches, some fans turned on him.
The unpredictability of when managers get sacked in the Premier League made him one of the odds-on favourite to be booted out of his current club.
However, he remained at the helm at the Emirates and has since guided the Gunners to a return to form.
ESPN says while most people expected him to get the sack, the Arsenal hierarchy understood that the poor start to this season was a necessary step to the club becoming a stronger one.
They were ready to be patient while he reconstructs the squad that he inherited at the Emirates.
Now that Arsenal is in top form, the club will hope they can finish inside the top four sooner rather than later.