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On the eve of his sixth anniversary as manager, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his longevity in North London is fundamentally dependent to achieving success.

The Journey So Far: From Appointment to Present

Arteta took over on the 20th of December in 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup victory a short time later. Yet, that first major trophy remains his only significant piece of silverware since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” Arteta responded in response to a query about remaining in charge after his current deal. “However, it is about today. And many things must occur in the near future as well to warrant that continuation.”

Saturday night brings the landmark with a match versus Everton, the very same club Arsenal played the day after his role was made public.

The Current Landscape

As trailing Manchester City taking on West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal face being knocked off first place in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This situation arises despite Arteta presiding over a squad that has suffered more than a century of fitness issues since the start of last season.

Arteta is tied down by 18 months remaining on the contract he inked in 2024, but is acutely aware that he must deliver in the immediate future.

The Manager's Mandate

The manager expanded, highlighting the ongoing need to prove his worth. “In my view a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you talk here, how you go into the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He added, praising the consistent faith from the board and owners, but pinpointing the squad's dedication as the key factor. “At the end, the most important ones are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, desire to learn and give the maximum to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The team heads into the upcoming game coping with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a muscle problem that is expected to sideline him for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Despite the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta is confident the club's “focus and dialogue” are profoundly distinct from when he first arrived.

The manager referenced the team's performances as proof they are close. “Examine the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the caliber we've reached.”

In closing, the manager stated, “This is a standard that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And our aim is to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”