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Ahead of marking his sixth anniversary in charge, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his future at Arsenal is directly connected to achieving success.

The Journey So Far: From Appointment to Present

The Spanish coach assumed control on 20 December 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup victory not long after. However, that initial silverware stands as his only top-tier trophy following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Yes,” the manager said in response to a query about his future past 2027. “However, it is about today. And many things must occur in the near future as well to deserve that opportunity.”

This weekend sees the landmark with a game facing Everton, the very same club Arsenal played just after his hiring was confirmed.

The Current Landscape

As second-placed Manchester City playing against West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal could be displaced first place in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This comes even with Arteta presiding over a squad that has endured in excess of one hundred injury setbacks over the course of last season.

The manager is tied down by 18 months remaining on the contract he inked in 2024, but is acutely aware that he must deliver sooner rather than later.

Survival in the Job

Arteta elaborated, highlighting the daily requirement to validate his position. “My belief is that a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you communicate, how you step into the dressing room, the signal you send.”

He stated further, commending the strong backing from the club's ownership, but pinpointing the team's buy-in as most crucial. “Ultimately, the critical component are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, desire to learn and give their all to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The team faces the weekend fixture managing yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a strain that is anticipated to sideline him for several weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Even with the injury crisis and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “objectives and communication” are vastly different from when he first arrived.

Arteta highlighted the squad's displays as proof they are close. “Consider the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the standard we operate at.”

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