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On the eve of his sixth anniversary at the helm, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his continued role with the club is inextricably linked to delivering trophies.

The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge

The former Arsenal captain was appointed on 20 December 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup triumph a short time later. But, that initial silverware is still his only significant piece of silverware after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Yes,” the manager said upon being asked about remaining in charge after his current deal. “Yet it's about today. And numerous factors need to fall into place in the coming months as well to warrant that continuation.”

This weekend sees the anniversary with a match versus Everton, the very same club Arsenal faced immediately following his role was made public.

League Position and Pressure

With second-placed Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal risk losing first place in the Premier League before their own match begins. This situation arises even with Arteta overseeing a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries from the beginning of last season.

He is tied down by a year and a half left on the contract he inked in 2024, yet understands fully that results must come in the immediate future.

The Manager's Mandate

He went on to explain, stressing the constant necessity to justify his role. “In my view a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you talk here, how you enter the dressing room, the signal you send.”

Arteta continued, expressing gratitude for the strong backing from the club's ownership, yet identifying the players' commitment as most crucial. “At the end, the key individuals are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, willingness to improve and give the maximum to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

Arsenal faces the weekend fixture dealing with a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a muscle problem that is likely to keep him out for a few weeks.

A Different Club

Regardless of the injury crisis and the intense pressure, Arteta believes the club's “focus and dialogue” are profoundly distinct from when he began his reign.

The manager referenced 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.”

He finished by saying, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And our ambition is to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”