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As he approaches his six-year milestone in charge, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his longevity in North London is fundamentally dependent to winning major honors.

The Journey So Far: From Appointment to Present

Arteta assumed control on 20 December 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory not long after. Yet, that early success is still his only significant piece of silverware after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Yes,” the manager said in response to a query about his future past 2027. “But it’s about today. And numerous factors have to happen in the next few months as well to deserve that opportunity.”

He will mark the six-year milestone with a game facing Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal faced the day after his hiring was confirmed.

Present Challenges

With chasing Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal risk losing top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This potential shift notwithstanding Arteta presiding over a squad that has been plagued by over 100 injuries from the beginning of last season.

The manager currently has 18 months remaining on the extension he agreed to in 2024, however, he knows that results must come promptly.

The Manager's Mandate

Arteta elaborated, stressing the daily requirement 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 talk here, how you go into the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

Arteta continued, expressing gratitude for the strong backing from the hierarchy, but pinpointing the squad's dedication as the key factor. “Ultimately, the key individuals are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, hunger for knowledge and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The team approaches the weekend fixture dealing with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a hamstring injury that is likely to sideline him for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Even with the availability issues and the immense scrutiny, Arteta is confident the club's “priorities and messaging” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

The manager referenced the team's performances as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Consider the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the caliber we've reached.”

He finished by saying, “This is a standard that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And our aim is to achieve more lofty ambitions. And if we do that, I think we are on the right path to winning.”