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Ahead of marking his six-year milestone in charge, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his future at Arsenal is inextricably linked to delivering trophies.

The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge

Arteta took over on 20 December 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup triumph not long after. But, that first major trophy is still his only significant piece of silverware after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Yes,” the manager said in response to a query about staying beyond 2027. “But it’s about today. And a lot of things have to happen in the near future as well to warrant that continuation.”

This weekend sees the landmark with a fixture against Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal played just after his role was made public.

The Current Landscape

As chasing Manchester City set to face West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal could be displaced top spot in the Premier League for the first time. This situation arises even with Arteta managing a squad that has endured over 100 injuries from the beginning of last season.

Arteta is tied down by 18 months to run on the deal he signed in 2024, however, he knows that success is required in the immediate future.

Survival in the Job

The manager expanded, emphasizing the daily requirement 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 address the media, how you go into the dressing room, the signal you send.”

Arteta continued, commending the strong backing from the board and owners, while singling out the squad's dedication as most crucial. “In the final analysis, the key individuals 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.”

Squad Setbacks

The team heads into the Everton match coping with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a muscle problem that is likely to see him miss action for the coming weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Even with the injury crisis and the immense scrutiny, Arteta feels the club's “objectives and communication” are vastly different from when he initially took over.

The manager referenced the squad's displays as proof they are close. “You look at the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the level we are at.”

In closing, the manager stated, “This is a standard that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And our aim is to achieve more lofty ambitions. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”