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As he approaches his six-year milestone as manager, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly 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 promptly led the team to an cup win not long after. However, that early success remains his only top-tier trophy following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” the manager said upon being asked about staying beyond 2027. “But it’s about today. And numerous factors need to fall into place in the near future as well to warrant that continuation.”

This weekend sees the six-year milestone with a fixture against Everton, the very same club Arsenal faced immediately following his role was made public.

The Current Landscape

With second-placed Manchester City playing against West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal could be displaced first place in the Premier League for the first time. This potential shift notwithstanding Arteta overseeing a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries over the course of last season.

Arteta is under a contract with 18 months remaining on the contract he inked in 2024, but is acutely aware that he must deliver in the immediate future.

The Manager's Mandate

Arteta elaborated, highlighting the constant necessity to validate his position. “I think a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you address the media, how you go into the dressing room, the signal you send.”

He added, praising the strong backing from the hierarchy, but pinpointing the squad's dedication as paramount. “At the end, the key individuals are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, hunger for knowledge and give the maximum to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The team approaches the weekend fixture dealing with a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for the coming weeks.

A Different Club

Despite the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “focus and dialogue” are profoundly distinct from when he initially took over.

The manager referenced the squad's displays as evidence of progress. “Examine the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still have yet 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 our aim is to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”