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

A Look Back: From Appointment to Present

The former Arsenal captain assumed control on December 20th, 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory a short time later. But, that initial silverware is still his sole major honor following the departure of Unai Emery.

“I can,” he stated upon being asked about staying beyond 2027. “However, it is about today. And many things must occur in the coming months as well to warrant that continuation.”

He will mark the anniversary with a game facing Everton, the very same club Arsenal faced immediately following his role was made public.

League Position and Pressure

With chasing Manchester City taking on West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal risk losing top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This potential shift notwithstanding Arteta overseeing a squad that has been plagued by more than a century of fitness issues over the course of last season.

The manager currently has a year and a half left on the deal he signed in 2024, however, he knows that results must come sooner rather than later.

Survival in the Job

Arteta elaborated, highlighting the constant necessity to justify his role. “In my view a manager has to earn 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 instructions you give.”

He stated further, commending the consistent faith from the club's ownership, but pinpointing the team's buy-in as most crucial. “In the final analysis, the most important ones are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, hunger for knowledge and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The team heads into the Everton match dealing with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for a few weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Despite the injury crisis and the high-stakes environment, Arteta is confident the club's “priorities and messaging” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

Arteta highlighted the squad's displays as proof they are close. “Examine the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the caliber we've reached.”

In closing, the manager stated, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And we want to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”