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As he approaches his six-year milestone in charge, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his continued role with the club is inextricably linked to winning major honors.

The Journey So Far: From Appointment to Present

The Spanish coach took over on the 20th of December in 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup triumph within months. But, that first major trophy stands as his only top-tier trophy following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated in response to a query about his future past 2027. “But it’s about today. And many things must occur in the near future as well to warrant that continuation.”

Saturday night brings the landmark with a fixture against Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal played just after his hiring was confirmed.

The Current Landscape

With trailing Manchester City set to face West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal could be displaced top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This situation arises notwithstanding Arteta managing a squad that has endured in excess of one hundred injury setbacks over the course of last season.

He currently has 18 months remaining on the contract he inked in 2024, yet understands fully that success is required in the immediate future.

The Manager's Mandate

Arteta elaborated, emphasizing the ongoing need to justify his role. “I think a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you communicate, how you step into the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He added, praising the consistent faith from the club's ownership, while singling out the squad's dedication as paramount. “At the end, the most important ones are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, willingness to improve and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The team heads into the weekend fixture coping with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for several weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Regardless of the availability issues and the intense pressure, Arteta believes the club's “priorities and messaging” are completely changed from when he initially took over.

The manager referenced the record-breaking achievements as a sign they are nearing their goal. “You look at the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the caliber we've reached.”

Arteta concluded, “That is a level that the Premier League has not witnessed in the past. And we want to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”