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As he approaches his sixth anniversary as manager, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his future at Arsenal is fundamentally dependent to delivering trophies.

A Look Back: Six Years in Charge

The Spanish coach took over on 20 December 2019 and promptly led the team to an cup win a short time later. However, that first major trophy remains his only top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” Arteta responded when questioned about remaining in charge after his current deal. “But it’s about today. And many things need to fall into place in the next few months as well to warrant that continuation.”

Saturday night brings the six-year milestone with a game facing Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced just after his role was made public.

Present Challenges

As second-placed Manchester City playing against West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal could be displaced top spot in the Premier League before their own match begins. This comes despite Arteta managing a squad that has endured more than a century of fitness issues from the beginning of last season.

He currently has 18 months to run on the contract he inked in 2024, however, he knows that results must come promptly.

Earning the Right

Arteta elaborated, stressing the ongoing need to justify his role. “My belief is that a manager has to earn 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 signal you send.”

He stated further, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from the hierarchy, yet identifying the team's buy-in as most crucial. “At the end, the most important ones are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, willingness to improve and give their all to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The squad heads into the upcoming game managing a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a strain that is likely to see him miss action for a few weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Despite the availability issues and the immense scrutiny, Arteta believes the club's “priorities and messaging” are completely changed from when he began his reign.

Arteta highlighted the record-breaking achievements as proof they are close. “Examine the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still haven't been able 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 our ambition is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”