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On the eve of his sixth anniversary in charge, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his continued role with the club is directly connected to winning major honors.

The Journey So Far: The Arteta Era

Arteta was appointed on December 20th, 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory not long after. However, that early success is still his lone significant piece of silverware following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Yes,” 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 earn the right.”

Saturday night brings the six-year milestone with a match versus Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced immediately following his hiring was confirmed.

The Current Landscape

As chasing Manchester City taking on West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal could be displaced first place in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This situation arises notwithstanding Arteta presiding over a squad that has endured over 100 injuries since the start of last season.

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

Earning the Right

He went on to explain, highlighting the daily requirement to validate his position. “My belief is that a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you communicate, how you step into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He added, expressing gratitude for the strong backing from the board and owners, while singling out the squad's dedication as the key factor. “At the end, the most important ones are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, desire to learn and give their all to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The team faces the Everton match managing yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a hamstring injury that is likely to keep him out for the coming weeks.

A Different Club

Regardless of the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “priorities and messaging” are profoundly distinct from when he initially took over.

Arteta highlighted the team's performances as evidence of progress. “You look at the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the level we are at.”

Arteta concluded, “That is a level 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 proper course to winning.”