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On the eve of his sixth anniversary as manager, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his longevity in North London is directly connected to winning major honors.

The Journey So Far: From Appointment to Present

The Spanish coach assumed control on 20 December 2019 and managed to steer the team to an cup win a short time later. However, that first major trophy stands as his only top-tier trophy after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” Arteta responded in response to a query about his future past 2027. “But it’s about today. And a lot of things need to fall into place in the near future as well to earn the right.”

Saturday night brings the landmark with a fixture against Everton, the identical team Arsenal played immediately following his role was made public.

The Current Landscape

With trailing Manchester City set to face West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal face being knocked off top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This comes despite Arteta managing a squad that has been plagued by in excess of one hundred injury setbacks over the course of last season.

Arteta currently has 18 months remaining on the extension he agreed to in 2024, however, he knows that he must deliver promptly.

The Manager's Mandate

The manager expanded, highlighting the ongoing need to justify his role. “In my view 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.”

Arteta continued, commending the unwavering support from the club's ownership, while singling out the players' commitment as the key factor. “At the end, the critical component are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, desire to learn and give their all to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The squad faces the weekend fixture dealing with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a hamstring injury that is likely to keep him out for a few weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Regardless of the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “focus and dialogue” are vastly different from when he first arrived.

He pointed to the squad's displays as proof they are close. “Consider the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the caliber we've reached.”

Arteta concluded, “It represents a quality 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 correct trajectory to winning.”