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On the eve of his six-year milestone in charge, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his future at Arsenal is fundamentally dependent to winning major honors.

Reflecting on: Six Years in Charge

Arteta was appointed on 20 December 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup triumph not long after. Yet, that early success remains his lone significant piece of silverware since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” Arteta responded when questioned about remaining in charge after his current deal. “But it’s about today. And many things must occur in the coming months as well to earn the right.”

This weekend sees the landmark with a fixture against Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced immediately following his role was made public.

Present Challenges

As second-placed Manchester City taking on West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal could be displaced top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This potential shift despite Arteta managing a squad that has been plagued by more than a century of fitness issues from the beginning of last season.

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

Survival in the Job

He went on to explain, stressing the constant necessity to validate his position. “My belief is that 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 instructions you give.”

He added, praising the consistent faith from the board and owners, while singling out the players' commitment as most crucial. “At the end, the key individuals are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, desire to learn and give the maximum to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The team faces 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 the coming weeks.

A Different Club

Despite the fitness woes and the high-stakes environment, Arteta is confident the club's “objectives and communication” are profoundly distinct from when he initially took over.

Arteta highlighted the team's performances as a sign they are nearing their goal. “You look at the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the level we are at.”

Arteta concluded, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And our aim is to achieve more lofty ambitions. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”