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Ahead of marking his half-decade plus one year in charge, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his future at Arsenal is directly connected to delivering trophies.

A Look Back: From Appointment to Present

Arteta assumed control on December 20th, 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup triumph within months. But, that first major trophy remains his lone top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery.

“I can,” he stated when questioned about his future past 2027. “But it’s about today. And a lot of things need to fall into place in the near future as well to deserve that opportunity.”

This weekend sees the six-year milestone with a game facing Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal met the day after his appointment was announced.

The Current Landscape

With chasing Manchester City taking on West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal face being knocked off the summit in the Premier League for the first time. This situation arises even with Arteta presiding over a squad that has been plagued by more than a century of fitness issues since the start of last season.

Arteta currently has 18 months remaining on the deal he signed in 2024, but is acutely aware that success is required in the immediate future.

Survival in the Job

The manager expanded, highlighting the constant necessity to justify his role. “I think a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you communicate, how you go into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He added, commending the consistent faith from the hierarchy, yet identifying the players' commitment as most crucial. “Ultimately, the critical component are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, hunger for knowledge and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The squad heads into the Everton match dealing with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a hamstring injury that is anticipated to see him miss action for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Regardless of the fitness woes and the immense scrutiny, Arteta believes the club's “priorities and messaging” are profoundly distinct from when he began his reign.

The manager referenced the record-breaking achievements as proof they are close. “Consider the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still have yet 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 never experienced in the past. And we want to achieve more lofty ambitions. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”