Mikel Arteta is aware that he will be forced out of Arsenal at some point in his coaching career, but the Spaniard says he does not fear getting the sack.
The 38-year-old is finding out the hard way just how tough life in a Premier League dugout can be.
He has been thrown in at the deep end, after cutting his teeth alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, with a demanding role in north London presenting him with plenty of challenges.
Arsenal have made their worst start to a season – Arteta’s first full campaign at the helm – in 39 years and find themselves languishing in 14th spot on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Sunday.
Questions are being asked of the direction in which the Gunners are heading, with changes off the field doing little to deliver a reversal in fortune on it.
Arteta has been around long enough to know that pressure comes with the territory in professional sport, with it rare for players or managers to spend too long at any one club.
He is, however, adamant that expectation will not weigh heavy on his shoulders and that no thoughts will be given to potentially being axed from the most prominent of posts.
“It’s something that the day I decided to be a coach I know that one day I will be sacked or leave the football club,” Arteta told reporters after overseeing another disappointing display at home to Wolves.
“I don’t know if it’s the day after I sign my contract, in a month’s time, a year’s time or six months’ time. I never worry about it.
“My only concern is to get the best out of the players, give the best possible service to the club and become better and better.
“I know, I repeat, in this profession, one day I will get the sack or leave but I don’t know when that is going to happen.”
Arteta appeared to have Arsenal back on track after delivering FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs, while also dipping back into the transfer market, but inconsistency remains a problem for the Gunners and a solution needs to be found quickly if more tangible success is to be savoured in the near future.