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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 directly connected to achieving success.

The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge

The Spanish coach was appointed on 20 December 2019 and soon guided the team to an cup win not long after. Yet, that initial silverware remains his only significant piece of silverware since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated when questioned about remaining in charge after his current deal. “However, it is about today. And a lot of things must occur in the near future as well to deserve that opportunity.”

He will mark the six-year milestone with a fixture against Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced just after his role was made public.

The Current Landscape

With chasing Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal face being knocked off the summit in the Premier League for the first time. This situation arises notwithstanding Arteta overseeing a squad that has suffered more than a century of fitness issues since the start of last season.

Arteta is under a contract with a year and a half left on the deal he signed in 2024, but is acutely aware that success is required in the immediate future.

Survival in the Job

The manager expanded, highlighting the constant necessity to validate his position. “In my view a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by 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 board and owners, but pinpointing the players' commitment as most crucial. “Ultimately, 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.”

Injury Concerns

Arsenal heads into the Everton match dealing with a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for the coming weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Regardless of the injury crisis and the high-stakes environment, Arteta feels the club's “focus and dialogue” are vastly different from when he initially took over.

The manager referenced the squad's displays as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Examine the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the standard we operate at.”

Arteta concluded, “That is a level that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And our ambition is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”