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Ahead of marking his six-year milestone at the helm, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his future at Arsenal is directly connected to delivering trophies.

A Look Back: The Arteta Era

The former Arsenal captain took over on December 20th, 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup triumph within months. Yet, that early success is still his lone major honor since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated when questioned about remaining in charge after his current deal. “Yet it's about today. And numerous factors have to happen in the coming months as well to earn the right.”

He will mark the landmark with a match versus Everton, the identical team Arsenal played just after his hiring was confirmed.

The Current Landscape

Given that trailing Manchester City set to face West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal risk losing top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This comes notwithstanding Arteta managing 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 deal he signed in 2024, but is acutely aware that he must deliver in the immediate future.

Survival in the Job

Arteta elaborated, emphasizing the ongoing need to prove his worth. “In my view 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 step into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He stated further, commending the unwavering support from the club's ownership, yet identifying the squad's dedication as most crucial. “In the final analysis, the most important ones are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, hunger for knowledge and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The team heads into the upcoming game dealing with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a hamstring injury that is likely to keep him out for the coming weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Despite the availability issues and the intense pressure, Arteta believes the club's “focus and dialogue” are completely changed from when he began his reign.

Arteta highlighted the record-breaking achievements as proof they are close. “Consider the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the level we are at.”

He finished by saying, “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.”