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Ahead of marking his six-year milestone at the helm, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his longevity in North London is inextricably linked to delivering trophies.

The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge

The former Arsenal captain was appointed on 20 December 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup triumph within months. However, that first major trophy remains his lone significant piece of silverware following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Yes,” he stated when questioned about staying beyond 2027. “But it’s about today. And numerous factors have to happen in the near future as well to earn the right.”

Saturday night brings the six-year milestone with a game facing Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal played just after his appointment was announced.

The Current Landscape

As chasing Manchester City taking on West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal face being knocked off the summit in the Premier League before their own match begins. This comes notwithstanding Arteta overseeing a squad that has endured more than a century of fitness issues over the course of last season.

He is under a contract with 18 months remaining on the extension he agreed to in 2024, however, he knows that he must deliver sooner rather than later.

Survival in the Job

He went on to explain, stressing the daily requirement to prove his worth. “I think a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you communicate, how you step into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He added, commending the consistent faith from the club's ownership, while singling out the team's buy-in as the key factor. “At the end, the critical component are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, willingness to improve and give the maximum to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The squad faces the Everton match dealing with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a strain that is likely to sideline him for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Regardless of the injury crisis and the intense pressure, Arteta believes the club's “priorities and messaging” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

Arteta highlighted the team's performances as proof they are close. “Consider the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the level we are at.”

He finished by saying, “This is a standard that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And our aim is to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”