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On the eve of his six-year milestone at the helm, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his future at Arsenal is fundamentally dependent to achieving success.

Reflecting on: The Arteta Era

The former Arsenal captain assumed control on 20 December 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory a short time later. Yet, that initial silverware is still his lone significant piece of silverware following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Yes,” the manager said when questioned about his future past 2027. “Yet it's about today. And a lot of things must occur in the near future as well to deserve that opportunity.”

He will mark the landmark with a fixture against Everton, the very same club Arsenal faced the day after his role was made public.

League Position and Pressure

As trailing Manchester City set to face West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal could be displaced first place in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This comes despite Arteta presiding over 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 remaining on the extension he agreed to in 2024, yet understands fully that results must come sooner rather than later.

Earning the Right

He went on to explain, highlighting the constant necessity to validate his position. “I think a manager has to earn 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 signal you send.”

He added, praising the strong backing from the hierarchy, but pinpointing the players' commitment as most crucial. “At the end, the critical component are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, desire to learn and give their all to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The squad faces the weekend fixture managing an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a strain that is likely to see him miss action for several weeks.

A Different Club

Even with the fitness woes and the intense pressure, Arteta is confident the club's “objectives and communication” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

The manager referenced the squad's displays as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Consider the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the level we are at.”

Arteta concluded, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And we want to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the right path to winning.”