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Ahead of marking his six-year milestone as manager, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his longevity in North London is directly connected to delivering trophies.

The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge

Arteta was appointed on 20 December 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory not long after. But, that initial silverware is still his lone top-tier trophy after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Yes,” Arteta responded upon being asked about his future past 2027. “However, it is about today. And a lot of things must occur in the coming months as well to warrant that continuation.”

He will mark the landmark with a match versus Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced the day after his role was made public.

Present Challenges

With trailing Manchester City playing against West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal risk losing first place in the Premier League for the first time. This potential shift notwithstanding Arteta presiding over a squad that has been plagued by in excess of one hundred injury setbacks over the course of last season.

Arteta is under a contract with 18 months remaining on the contract he inked in 2024, however, he knows that success is required in the immediate future.

The Manager's Mandate

Arteta elaborated, stressing the daily requirement to prove his worth. “My belief is that a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you communicate, how you go into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He added, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from the club's ownership, while singling out the squad's dedication as paramount. “Ultimately, the key individuals are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, hunger for knowledge and give the maximum to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The team faces the Everton match dealing with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a strain that is expected to see him miss action for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Even with the injury crisis and the intense pressure, Arteta feels the club's “objectives and communication” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

He pointed to the record-breaking achievements as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Examine the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the level we are at.”

Arteta concluded, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has never experienced 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.”