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Ahead of marking his sixth anniversary at the helm, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his longevity in North London is fundamentally dependent to delivering trophies.

Reflecting on: Six Years in Charge

The former Arsenal captain was appointed on 20 December 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup triumph a short time later. But, that early success is still his sole top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery.

“I can,” he stated in response to a query about his future past 2027. “However, it is about today. And many things have to happen in the coming months as well to warrant that continuation.”

Saturday night brings the landmark with a match versus Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal faced just after his appointment was announced.

The Current Landscape

With chasing Manchester City set to face West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal face being knocked off top spot in the Premier League before their own match begins. This potential shift notwithstanding Arteta presiding over a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries over the course of last season.

The manager currently has 18 months to run on the extension he agreed to in 2024, but is acutely aware that success is required sooner rather than later.

Earning the Right

Arteta elaborated, emphasizing the daily requirement to validate his position. “My belief is that a manager has to earn the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you address the media, how you enter the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He added, praising the consistent faith from the hierarchy, while singling out the players' commitment as the key factor. “In the final analysis, the critical component are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, desire to learn and give the maximum to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The team faces the weekend fixture dealing with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a strain that is expected to see him miss action for the coming weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Regardless of the injury crisis and the high-stakes environment, Arteta feels the club's “focus and dialogue” are completely changed from when he initially took over.

The manager referenced the squad's displays as evidence of progress. “You look at the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the caliber we've reached.”

Arteta concluded, “This is a standard that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And we want to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”