ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta might be on cloud nine with his team sitting top of the Premier League – but he says he is prepared for an inevitable sacking.
The Spaniard, 40, has turned things around at the Emirates having once been one of the favourites to get the chop last season.
Arsenal have taken 21 points from an available 24 this term and sit top of the table above Prem champions Manchester City.
Heading into Sunday's home match against Liverpool, the Gunners are 11 points ahead of Jurgen Klopp's men, and can extend that to 14 with a win.
Arsenal are also one of the favourites to win the Europa League, and with Arteta's team in a free-scoring mood, it's hard to disagree.
But Arteta says losing his job is inevitable.
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It's a matter of when – but he refuses to let the thought of losing his post at Arsenal drive his emotion.
Speaking on Michael Calvin’s Football People podcast, Arteta said: "As a manager, probably it’s the (biggest) fear of getting sacked.
"I made a very conscious decision the day I made the decision to become a coach – I said: ‘It will happen. Today, tomorrow, in a month’s time, in ten years time. I don't know when it will happen.’
"That cannot drive my emotion and this cannot be the reason why I do certain things or not.
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"For me now the fear is to let people down.”
The feel-good factor is back at Arsenal, something that has been absent since the departure of legendary boss Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal are unified both on and off the pitch – something a long-serving staff member told Arteta.
They told the Gunners boss: "I’ve never seen this before.
"I have never felt that unity across the club, with our supporters.”
Arteta says bringing the club together is a bigger success than winning trophies.
The relationship between the ownership and the fans has been fractured for some time, but results on the pitch help ease the pressure on Stan Kroenke and Co.
A lot of money has also been spent on the squad, in recent seasons especially, which Arsenal are reaping the benefits of.
Arteta added: "It depends what you call success.
"I mean, if it’s winning titles or it’s bringing our club together. For me, bringing the club together is much more powerful.
"We have a club that was in a difficult state, with a lot of cracks, a lot of division.
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"At the moment, this is a very different club.
"And that’s an incredible credit that everybody has to take, from the top of the club to every player. Because we did that together.”
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