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Ahead of marking his six-year milestone as manager, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his continued role with the club is inextricably linked to delivering trophies.

Reflecting on: Six Years in Charge

Arteta took over on the 20th of December in 2019 and promptly led the team to an cup win a short time later. However, that first major trophy is still his lone top-tier trophy after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Yes,” the manager said in response to a query about staying beyond 2027. “Yet it's about today. And many things need to fall into place in the next few months as well to earn the right.”

He will mark the six-year milestone with a match versus Everton, the very same club Arsenal played just after his hiring was confirmed.

The Current Landscape

With chasing Manchester City taking on West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal could be displaced top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This potential shift despite Arteta presiding over a squad that has endured in excess of one hundred injury setbacks since the start of last season.

Arteta is under a contract with 18 months remaining on the extension he agreed to in 2024, however, he knows that results must come in the immediate future.

Earning the Right

Arteta elaborated, emphasizing the ongoing need to validate his position. “I think a manager needs to warrant 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 signal you send.”

He added, praising the unwavering support from the board and owners, yet identifying the players' commitment as most crucial. “At the end, the critical component are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, willingness to improve and give the maximum to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The team faces the weekend fixture dealing with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a muscle problem that is likely to sideline him for several weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Even with the fitness woes and the high-stakes environment, Arteta is confident the club's “objectives and communication” are completely changed from when he initially took over.

Arteta highlighted the record-breaking achievements as evidence of progress. “Consider the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the caliber we've reached.”

In closing, the manager stated, “That is a level that the Premier League has not seen before 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.”