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As he approaches his sixth anniversary as manager, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his continued role with the club is inextricably linked to delivering trophies.

Reflecting on: The Arteta Era

Arteta took over on December 20th, 2019 and managed to steer the team to an cup win within months. Yet, that initial silverware remains his only top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” Arteta responded when questioned about staying beyond 2027. “Yet it's about today. And a lot of things need to fall into place in the near future as well to deserve that opportunity.”

He will mark the six-year milestone with a match versus Everton, the very same club Arsenal played immediately following his appointment was announced.

The Current Landscape

Given that second-placed Manchester City taking on West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal could be displaced the summit in the Premier League for the first time. This situation arises even with Arteta presiding over a squad that has been plagued by over 100 injuries since the start of last season.

Arteta is tied down by a year and a half left on the extension he agreed to in 2024, yet understands fully that success is required in the immediate future.

The Manager's Mandate

Arteta elaborated, highlighting the constant necessity to validate his position. “In my view 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 message you convey.”

He stated further, commending the strong backing from the club's ownership, while singling out the squad's dedication as most crucial. “At the end, the most important ones are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, desire to learn and give their all to the team.”

Injury Concerns

Arsenal faces the Everton match coping with a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a hamstring injury that is expected to see him miss action for several weeks.

A Different Club

Despite the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “objectives and communication” are profoundly distinct from when he began his reign.

Arteta highlighted the record-breaking achievements as a sign they are nearing their goal. “You look at the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the standard we operate at.”

He finished by saying, “That is a level that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And our ambition is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”