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On the eve of his six-year milestone at the helm, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his future at Arsenal is inextricably linked to winning major honors.

A Look Back: Six Years in Charge

The former Arsenal captain was appointed on December 20th, 2019 and managed to steer the team to an cup win a short time later. But, that first major trophy stands as his only significant piece of silverware following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” Arteta responded when questioned about staying beyond 2027. “Yet it's about today. And a lot of things must occur in the near future as well to earn the right.”

He will mark the landmark with a game facing Everton, the very same club Arsenal faced immediately following his role was made public.

League Position and Pressure

Given that trailing Manchester City set to face West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal risk losing top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This comes despite Arteta overseeing a squad that has been plagued by in excess of one hundred injury setbacks over the course of last season.

Arteta currently has a year and a half left on the deal he signed in 2024, yet understands fully that he must deliver promptly.

Earning the Right

The manager expanded, highlighting the constant necessity to justify his role. “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 go into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He stated further, praising the strong backing from the board and owners, yet identifying the squad's dedication as most crucial. “Ultimately, the most important ones are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, willingness to improve and give the maximum to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

Arsenal heads into the Everton match dealing with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a hamstring injury that is likely to keep him out for a few weeks.

A Different Club

Even with the injury crisis and the high-stakes environment, Arteta feels the club's “objectives and communication” are completely changed from when he initially took over.

He pointed to the record-breaking achievements as evidence of progress. “You look at the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the standard we operate at.”

In closing, the manager stated, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has not witnessed in the past. And our aim is to achieve more lofty ambitions. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”