Arsenal's trip to Manchester City this afternoon feels like a watershed moment for Mikel Arteta.
Arteta has turned the fortunes of Arsenal around in recent seasons, restoring the North London side to contenders from their lowest ebb of the Premier League era. The next, and most important, step has proven to be the hardest.
For three consecutive seasons, Arsenal have finished as Premier League runners-up. Strong seasons have not ended with silverware, and Arteta was taunted with an 'Always the bridesmaid, never the bride" banner at Anfield last season, as the Liverpool fans mocked another near miss.
"I think this year, or by the end of next season, you need to see some kind of trophies there. If not, particularly, the way football is these days, I think they’ll be looking to change again. I think this is a big season. When the time comes, middle of May, end of May, will be time to sit back and look."
Those words are not about Arteta, though you could be forgiven for thinking so.
It's an ultimatum aimed at Jurgen Klopp in 2018 by former Liverpool forward John Toshack. Klopp's arc at Liverpool had followed a similar path to Arteta's with Arsenal. He inherited a side mired in mediocrity, whose history haunted them as seasons passed by without major prizes. Progress was obvious, but questions were asked after Klopp lost each of his first three finals.
Liverpool's patience was rewarded. By the time Klopp left Liverpool in 2024, he did so as the club's most successful manager of the 21st century. A European champion, a domestic cup double-winner and, crucially, the man who ended the Reds' 30-year wait for a league title.
Arteta must now prove that he can shed the cruel bridesmaid tag. The Spaniard is undoubtedly an impressive coach, but he has had longer than Klopp to turn his team into trophy-winners, and has invested far heavier. His team froze in last month's Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City and can not afford to do so at the Etihad. City, as they always do, are finishing strong.
If Arsenal do not get over the line in the Premier League or Europe this season, the noise around their mentality will be deafening. It does not rest alone with Arteta, but he will be the man to bear the brunt of it. Title-winning teams need defining moments, and the time for Arsenal's is now.