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On the eve of his half-decade plus one year in charge, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his longevity in North London is fundamentally dependent to winning major honors.

The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge

Arteta was appointed on December 20th, 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup triumph a short time later. However, that early success stands as his sole major honor since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” Arteta responded when questioned about remaining in charge after his current deal. “However, it is about today. And many things need to fall into place in the coming months as well to earn the right.”

This weekend sees the landmark with a fixture against Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal played just after his role was made public.

League Position and Pressure

Given that chasing Manchester City playing against West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal risk losing first place in the Premier League for the first time. This situation arises notwithstanding Arteta managing a squad that has suffered more than a century of fitness issues since the start of last season.

The manager is under a contract with a year and a half left on the deal he signed in 2024, however, he knows that results must come promptly.

The Manager's Mandate

Arteta elaborated, emphasizing the constant necessity to validate his position. “I think a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you communicate, how you go into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

Arteta continued, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from the club's ownership, but pinpointing the squad's dedication as most crucial. “In the final analysis, the most important ones are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, hunger for knowledge and give their all to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

Arsenal faces the upcoming game dealing with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a muscle problem that is likely to see him miss action for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Regardless of the availability issues and the immense scrutiny, Arteta believes the club's “focus and dialogue” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

Arteta highlighted the record-breaking achievements 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 standard we operate at.”

Arteta concluded, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And we want to achieve more lofty ambitions. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”