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On the eve of his six-year milestone as manager, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his longevity in North London is fundamentally dependent to delivering trophies.

The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge

Arteta took over on the 20th of December in 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup triumph a short time later. But, that initial silverware is still his sole significant piece of silverware after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated upon being asked about remaining in charge after his current deal. “But it’s about today. And many things must occur in the near future as well to deserve that opportunity.”

This weekend sees the anniversary with a match versus Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal played immediately following his hiring was confirmed.

Present Challenges

With trailing Manchester City set to face West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal could be displaced the summit in the Premier League before their own match begins. This potential shift even with Arteta managing a squad that has been plagued by more than a century of fitness issues from the beginning of last season.

The manager currently has 18 months to run on the contract he inked in 2024, yet understands fully that he must deliver promptly.

Survival in the Job

Arteta elaborated, emphasizing the constant necessity to justify his role. “My belief is that a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you communicate, how you enter the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He stated further, commending the strong backing from the hierarchy, while singling out the squad's dedication as most crucial. “Ultimately, the key individuals are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, hunger for knowledge and give their all to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

Arsenal heads into the Everton match managing a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a muscle problem that is anticipated to keep him out for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Regardless of the fitness woes and the intense pressure, Arteta believes the club's “objectives and communication” are vastly different from when he initially took over.

He pointed to the squad's displays as evidence of progress. “You look at the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the level we are at.”

In closing, the manager stated, “That is a level 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.”