🔗 Share this article

On the eve of his six-year milestone as manager, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his continued role with the club is inextricably linked to winning major honors.

A Look Back: Six Years in Charge

The Spanish coach took over on 20 December 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup victory not long after. However, that early success is still his only major honor since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” the manager said upon being asked about remaining in charge after his current deal. “However, it is about today. And a lot of things have to happen in the next few months as well to deserve that opportunity.”

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

Present Challenges

As trailing Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal risk losing the summit in the Premier League before their own match begins. This situation arises even with Arteta presiding over a squad that has been plagued by over 100 injuries from the beginning of last season.

He currently has 18 months remaining on the contract he inked in 2024, yet understands fully that he must deliver sooner rather than later.

Survival in the Job

He went on to explain, emphasizing the daily requirement to prove his worth. “In my view a manager has to earn the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you talk here, how you enter the dressing room, the signal you send.”

He stated further, commending the strong backing from the board and owners, while singling out the team's buy-in as the key factor. “In the final analysis, the key individuals are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, willingness to improve and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The team approaches the Everton match dealing with a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a muscle problem that is anticipated to sideline him for the coming weeks.

A Different Club

Regardless of the injury crisis and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “priorities and messaging” are vastly different from when he first arrived.

The manager referenced the squad's displays as evidence of progress. “You look at the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the level we are at.”

Arteta concluded, “This is a standard 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 correct trajectory to winning.”