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As he approaches his sixth anniversary in charge, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his future at Arsenal is fundamentally dependent to delivering trophies.

The Journey So Far: From Appointment to Present

The Spanish coach was appointed on the 20th of December in 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup victory not long after. Yet, that early success remains his sole significant piece of silverware after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” the manager said upon being asked about staying beyond 2027. “However, it is about today. And many things need to fall into place in the next few months as well to earn the right.”

Saturday night brings the six-year milestone with a match versus Everton, the very same club Arsenal met immediately following his appointment was announced.

The Current Landscape

With second-placed Manchester City set to face West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal risk losing first place in the Premier League before their own match begins. This situation arises despite Arteta presiding over a squad that has endured more than a century of fitness issues over the course of last season.

Arteta is under a contract with a year and a half left on the contract he inked in 2024, however, he knows that he must deliver in the immediate future.

Earning the Right

The manager expanded, highlighting the constant necessity to validate his position. “My belief is that 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 added, expressing gratitude for the strong backing from the board and owners, while singling out the team's buy-in as paramount. “At the end, the critical component are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, willingness to improve and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The team faces the upcoming game dealing with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a muscle problem that is expected to keep him out for the coming weeks.

A Different Club

Despite the availability issues and the intense pressure, Arteta is confident the club's “focus and dialogue” are profoundly distinct from when he began his reign.

Arteta highlighted the team's performances as proof they are close. “You look at the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the standard we operate at.”

In closing, the manager stated, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And we want to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the right path to winning.”