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As he approaches his sixth anniversary at the helm, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his longevity in North London is inextricably linked to achieving success.

A Look Back: From Appointment to Present

The former Arsenal captain took over on the 20th of December in 2019 and managed to steer the team to an cup win within months. However, that initial silverware remains his sole major honor following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” Arteta responded upon being asked about remaining in charge after his current deal. “However, it is about today. And numerous factors have to happen in the next few months as well to warrant that continuation.”

He will mark the six-year milestone with a match versus Everton, the very same club Arsenal met immediately following his role was made public.

Present Challenges

Given that second-placed Manchester City set to face West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal risk losing top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This comes even with Arteta managing a squad that has been plagued by in excess of one hundred injury setbacks since the start of last season.

Arteta is under a contract with 18 months remaining on the deal he signed in 2024, but is acutely aware that success is required in the immediate future.

Earning the Right

He went on to explain, stressing the daily requirement to justify his role. “I think a manager must deserve 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 signal you send.”

Arteta continued, praising the unwavering support from the board and owners, yet identifying the players' commitment as most crucial. “At the end, the key individuals are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, desire to learn and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The team approaches the upcoming game coping with a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a strain that is likely to see him miss action for several weeks.

A Different Club

Regardless of the injury crisis and the high-stakes environment, Arteta feels the club's “objectives and communication” are completely changed from when he began his reign.

Arteta highlighted the record-breaking achievements as proof they are close. “Consider the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the level we are at.”

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 correct trajectory to winning.”