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As he approaches his half-decade plus one year in charge, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his continued role with the club is fundamentally dependent to delivering trophies.

A Look Back: The Arteta Era

Arteta assumed control on 20 December 2019 and managed to steer the team to an cup win within months. However, that initial silverware stands as his sole significant piece of silverware after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated in response to a query about staying beyond 2027. “Yet it's about today. And many things have to happen in the coming months as well to warrant that continuation.”

He will mark the six-year milestone with a fixture against Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal faced just after his appointment was announced.

The Current Landscape

Given that trailing Manchester City taking on West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal could be displaced top spot in the Premier League before their own match begins. This potential shift even with Arteta presiding over a squad that has suffered in excess of one hundred injury setbacks since the start of last season.

Arteta is tied down by 18 months to run on the contract he inked in 2024, yet understands fully that results must come in the immediate future.

Earning the Right

He went on to explain, highlighting the constant necessity to prove his worth. “My belief is that a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you talk here, how you go into the dressing room, the signal you send.”

He stated further, commending the unwavering support from the board and owners, while singling out the players' commitment as paramount. “At the end, 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 the maximum to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The squad approaches the weekend fixture coping with a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a muscle problem that is expected to keep him out for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Even with the injury crisis and the immense scrutiny, Arteta feels the club's “objectives and communication” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

Arteta highlighted the squad's displays as proof they are close. “Examine the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the caliber we've reached.”

He finished by saying, “That is a level 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 proper course to winning.”