Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says the board's patience with him and his team has them top of the table.
A new contract was signed last season amid a run of negative results.
Arteta said: "It certainly gave me all the right reasons to continue here.
I knew it wasn't going to be about a game or two we had lost.
"It was more about what we were doing during the season. That showed me that I was in the right place here and with the right people.
Obviously, it gives you stability and gives you even more drive and determination. Then we have a better team, we have better players and we are better equipped.
"And we have one more year's experience all together. And then it's about the support and the right environment we've created is very helpful."