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On the eve of his six-year milestone as manager, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his continued role with the club is fundamentally dependent to achieving success.

The Journey So Far: The Arteta Era

The former Arsenal captain assumed control on the 20th of December in 2019 and promptly led the team to an cup win a short time later. However, that initial silverware stands as his lone top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Yes,” he stated in response to a query about his future past 2027. “However, it is about today. And numerous factors have to happen in the near future as well to warrant that continuation.”

He will mark the six-year milestone with a game facing Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal met just after his role was made public.

The Current Landscape

Given that chasing Manchester City playing against West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal face being knocked off the summit in the Premier League for the first time. This potential shift despite Arteta managing a squad that has endured over 100 injuries since the start of last season.

Arteta is tied down by 18 months remaining on the deal he signed in 2024, but is acutely aware that success is required promptly.

The Manager's Mandate

Arteta elaborated, emphasizing the ongoing need to validate his position. “In my view a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you address the media, how you go into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

Arteta continued, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from the board and owners, while singling out the team's buy-in as the key factor. “Ultimately, the critical component are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, desire to learn and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

Arsenal faces the weekend fixture coping with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a muscle problem that is anticipated to keep him out for the coming weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Even with the availability issues and the intense pressure, Arteta is confident the club's “priorities and messaging” are completely changed from when he began his reign.

He pointed to the record-breaking achievements as proof they are close. “Consider the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the level we are at.”

Arteta concluded, “This is a standard that the Premier League has not witnessed 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.”