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Ahead of marking his sixth anniversary as manager, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his future at Arsenal is fundamentally dependent to delivering trophies.

Reflecting on: From Appointment to Present

The Spanish coach was appointed on 20 December 2019 and soon guided the team to an cup win not long after. Yet, that early success stands as his sole significant piece of silverware since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” the manager said when questioned about remaining in charge after his current deal. “However, it is about today. And many things have to happen in the next few months as well to deserve that opportunity.”

He will mark the six-year milestone with a match versus Everton, the identical team Arsenal met just after his role was made public.

Present Challenges

As second-placed Manchester City set to face West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal could be displaced top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This comes despite Arteta overseeing a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries over the course of last season.

The manager is under a contract with 18 months to run on the extension he agreed to in 2024, yet understands fully that he must deliver in the immediate future.

Survival in the Job

Arteta elaborated, emphasizing the constant necessity to justify his role. “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 message you convey.”

He added, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from the club's ownership, but pinpointing the squad's dedication as most crucial. “In the final analysis, the most important ones are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, desire to learn and give their all to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The team faces the weekend fixture coping with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a muscle problem that is anticipated to sideline him for a few weeks.

A Different Club

Even with the availability issues and the intense pressure, Arteta feels the club's “focus and dialogue” are profoundly distinct from when he first arrived.

The manager referenced the squad's displays as evidence of progress. “Examine the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the standard we operate at.”

In closing, the manager stated, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And we want to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”