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On the eve of his sixth anniversary in charge, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his continued role with the club is directly connected to winning major honors.

A Look Back: From Appointment to Present

The former Arsenal captain took over on the 20th of December in 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup victory not long after. But, that early success remains his lone major honor after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated in response to a query about staying beyond 2027. “But it’s about today. And numerous factors must occur in the coming months as well to deserve that opportunity.”

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

Present Challenges

Given that chasing Manchester City playing against West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal face being knocked off top spot in the Premier League before their own match begins. This potential shift despite Arteta overseeing a squad that has been plagued by in excess of one hundred injury setbacks from the beginning of last season.

The manager currently has a year and a half left on the contract he inked in 2024, yet understands fully that he must deliver sooner rather than later.

Earning the Right

Arteta elaborated, stressing the daily requirement to prove his worth. “My belief is that 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 enter the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He added, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from the club's ownership, yet identifying the players' commitment as paramount. “At the end, the most important ones are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, hunger for knowledge and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The team heads into the weekend fixture managing a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a muscle problem that is likely to keep him out for a few weeks.

A Different Club

Even with the fitness woes and the intense pressure, Arteta believes the club's “objectives and communication” are profoundly distinct from when he first arrived.

Arteta highlighted the team's performances as proof they are close. “Examine the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the caliber we've reached.”

Arteta concluded, “This is a standard that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And our aim is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the right path to winning.”