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On the eve of his sixth anniversary in charge, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his continued role with the club is inextricably linked to winning major honors.

A Look Back: Six Years in Charge

The former Arsenal captain took over on December 20th, 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup triumph a short time later. But, that early success remains his sole top-tier trophy following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” the manager said upon being asked about staying beyond 2027. “However, it is about today. And numerous factors have to happen in the near future as well to deserve that opportunity.”

This weekend sees the landmark with a game facing Everton, the very same club 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 risk losing the summit in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This potential shift despite Arteta presiding over a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries over the course of last season.

He is tied down by a year and a half left on the extension he agreed to in 2024, however, he knows that results must come sooner rather than later.

The Manager's Mandate

The manager expanded, stressing the constant necessity to prove his worth. “In my view a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you communicate, how you go into the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He added, commending the consistent faith from the club's ownership, yet identifying the team's buy-in as most crucial. “In the final analysis, the key individuals are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, willingness to improve and give the maximum to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

Arsenal heads into the Everton match 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

Despite the fitness woes and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “objectives and communication” are profoundly distinct from when he began his reign.

Arteta highlighted the record-breaking achievements as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Consider the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... 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 witnessed in the past. And we want to achieve more lofty ambitions. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”