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As he approaches his six-year milestone at the helm, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his future at Arsenal is directly connected to winning major honors.

A Look Back: The Arteta Era

The former Arsenal captain assumed control on the 20th of December in 2019 and soon guided the team to an cup win a short time later. However, that first major trophy is still his sole major honor since succeeding Unai Emery.

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

Saturday night brings the six-year milestone with a match versus Everton, the identical team Arsenal played the day after his role was made public.

Present Challenges

Given that trailing Manchester City playing against West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal risk losing first place in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This potential shift despite Arteta overseeing a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries since the start of last season.

The manager currently has 18 months to run on the contract he inked in 2024, yet understands fully that he must deliver promptly.

The Manager's Mandate

He went on to explain, stressing the daily requirement to prove his worth. “My belief is that a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you talk here, how you go into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He stated further, praising the unwavering support from the board and owners, yet identifying the squad's dedication as most crucial. “Ultimately, the key individuals are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, hunger for knowledge and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The squad faces the upcoming game coping with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a muscle problem that is expected to see him miss action for the coming weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Despite the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “priorities and messaging” are profoundly distinct from when he began his reign.

Arteta highlighted the record-breaking achievements as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Examine the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the standard we operate at.”

He finished by saying, “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 proper course to winning.”