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As he approaches his half-decade plus one year as manager, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his longevity in North London is fundamentally dependent to delivering trophies.

Reflecting on: Six Years in Charge

Arteta assumed control on December 20th, 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory within months. Yet, that early success remains his only significant piece of silverware since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated in response to a query about staying beyond 2027. “But it’s about today. And numerous factors must occur in the next few months as well to warrant that continuation.”

Saturday night brings the anniversary with a fixture against Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced immediately following his hiring was confirmed.

The Current Landscape

As second-placed Manchester City taking on West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal could be displaced top spot in the Premier League for the first time. This situation arises notwithstanding Arteta managing a squad that has suffered in excess of one hundred injury setbacks from the beginning of last season.

The manager currently has 18 months remaining on the contract he inked in 2024, but is acutely aware that success is required promptly.

Earning the Right

He went on to explain, highlighting the daily requirement 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 address the media, how you go into the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He added, praising the strong backing from the club's ownership, but pinpointing the team's buy-in as paramount. “Ultimately, the most important ones are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, willingness to improve and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The team heads into the weekend fixture coping with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a hamstring injury that is likely to keep him out for the coming weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Despite the injury crisis and the high-stakes environment, Arteta is confident the club's “objectives and communication” are vastly different from when he began his reign.

The manager referenced the record-breaking achievements as proof they are close. “Consider 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.”

He finished by saying, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has not witnessed in the past. And our aim is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”