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On the eve of his sixth anniversary in charge, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his longevity in North London is directly connected to delivering trophies.

A Look Back: Six Years in Charge

Arteta assumed control on December 20th, 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup triumph a short time later. However, that initial silverware is still his lone top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated in response to a query about remaining in charge after his current deal. “However, it is about today. And a lot of things have to happen in the coming months as well to warrant that continuation.”

Saturday night brings the six-year milestone with a fixture against Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal faced the day after his appointment was announced.

Present Challenges

As trailing Manchester City playing against West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal risk losing top spot in the Premier League before their own match begins. This situation arises even with Arteta overseeing a squad that has been plagued by over 100 injuries over the course of last season.

Arteta is tied down by 18 months remaining on the contract he inked in 2024, yet understands fully that he must deliver promptly.

Earning the Right

The manager expanded, emphasizing the constant necessity to prove his worth. “My belief is that a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you address the media, how you enter the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He stated further, commending the unwavering support from the club's ownership, while singling out the players' commitment as most crucial. “At the end, the key individuals are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, hunger for knowledge and give their all to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

Arsenal faces the Everton match dealing with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a strain that is expected to sideline him for the coming weeks.

A Different Club

Despite the injury crisis and the intense pressure, Arteta feels the club's “objectives and communication” are completely changed from when he initially took over.

He pointed to the record-breaking achievements as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Consider the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the caliber we've reached.”

He finished by saying, “This is a standard that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And we want to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”