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Ahead of marking his sixth anniversary as manager, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his continued role with the club is inextricably linked to delivering trophies.

A Look Back: From Appointment to Present

Arteta assumed control on 20 December 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup victory not long after. Yet, that early success stands as his only top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Yes,” he stated when questioned about remaining in charge after his current deal. “But it’s about today. And numerous factors need to fall into place in the near future as well to warrant that continuation.”

He will mark the anniversary with a match versus Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced immediately following his hiring was confirmed.

League Position and Pressure

With chasing Manchester City set to face West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal risk losing first place in the Premier League for the first time. This situation arises even with Arteta presiding over a squad that has suffered more than a century of fitness issues since the start of last season.

Arteta currently has 18 months to run on the extension he agreed to in 2024, however, he knows that success is required promptly.

The Manager's Mandate

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

Arteta continued, commending the consistent faith from the board and owners, yet identifying the players' commitment as paramount. “In the final analysis, the critical component are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, hunger for knowledge and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The team faces the weekend fixture managing a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a strain that is likely to keep him out for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Despite the fitness woes and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “objectives and communication” are vastly different from when he began his reign.

The manager referenced the record-breaking achievements as proof they are close. “You look at the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the caliber we've reached.”

Arteta concluded, “That is a level 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 proper course to winning.”