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Ahead of marking his half-decade plus one year in charge, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his longevity in North London is directly connected to winning major honors.

The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge

Arteta took over on December 20th, 2019 and promptly led the team to an cup win not long after. But, that initial silverware remains his only top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery.

“I can,” 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 deserve that opportunity.”

He will mark the landmark with a game facing Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced just after his hiring was confirmed.

The Current Landscape

As trailing Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal face being knocked off the summit in the Premier League for the first time. This situation arises notwithstanding Arteta overseeing a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries over the course of last season.

The manager currently has 18 months remaining on the contract he inked in 2024, however, he knows that success is required sooner rather than later.

The Manager's Mandate

He went on to explain, highlighting the constant necessity to justify his role. “I think a manager has to earn the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you communicate, how you go into the dressing room, the signal you send.”

Arteta continued, commending the unwavering support from the board and owners, yet identifying the team's buy-in as the key factor. “At the end, the most important ones are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, hunger for knowledge and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

Arsenal heads into the upcoming game dealing with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a strain that is expected to sideline him for the coming weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Even with the injury crisis and the immense scrutiny, Arteta feels the club's “priorities and messaging” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

The manager referenced the squad's displays as evidence of progress. “You look at the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the caliber we've reached.”

Arteta concluded, “That is a level that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And we want to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”