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Ahead of marking his sixth anniversary in charge, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his longevity in North London is fundamentally dependent to achieving success.

The Journey So Far: The Arteta Era

The Spanish coach took over on December 20th, 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup victory a short time later. But, that first major trophy stands as his only major honor since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Yes,” he stated upon being asked about remaining in charge after his current deal. “However, it is about today. And many things have to happen in the near future as well to earn the right.”

Saturday night brings the anniversary with a game facing Everton, the very same club Arsenal met just after his role was made public.

League Position and Pressure

As trailing Manchester City playing against West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal could be displaced top spot in the Premier League before their own match begins. This potential shift despite Arteta managing a squad that has suffered in excess of one hundred injury setbacks over the course of last season.

Arteta is tied down by a year and a half left on the contract he inked in 2024, yet understands fully that results must come sooner rather than later.

Survival in the Job

He went on to explain, highlighting the daily requirement to justify his role. “My belief is that a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you talk here, how you step into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He stated further, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from the club's ownership, while singling out the team's buy-in as the key factor. “Ultimately, the most important ones are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, hunger for knowledge and give the maximum to the team.”

Injury Concerns

Arsenal faces the weekend fixture managing a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a strain that is expected to keep him out for a few weeks.

A Different Club

Even with the availability issues and the intense pressure, Arteta is confident the club's “objectives and communication” are profoundly distinct from when he began his reign.

The manager referenced the team's performances as evidence of progress. “Consider the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the standard we operate at.”

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