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On the eve of his six-year milestone in charge, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his future at Arsenal is fundamentally dependent to winning major honors.

A Look Back: Six Years in Charge

The former Arsenal captain was appointed on 20 December 2019 and promptly led the team to an cup win within months. However, that initial silverware remains his lone major honor after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Yes,” Arteta responded upon being asked about staying beyond 2027. “However, it is about today. And a lot of things must occur in the next few months as well to earn the right.”

This weekend sees the six-year milestone with a match versus Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal played just after his role was made public.

League Position and Pressure

With trailing Manchester City playing against West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal face being knocked off the summit in the Premier League for the first time. This potential shift notwithstanding Arteta overseeing a squad that has been plagued by over 100 injuries over the course of last season.

Arteta currently has a year and a half left on the extension he agreed to in 2024, yet understands fully that he must deliver in the immediate future.

The Manager's Mandate

He went on to explain, stressing the ongoing need to validate his position. “My belief is that a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you communicate, how you enter the dressing room, the signal you send.”

He stated further, expressing gratitude for the consistent faith from the club's ownership, but pinpointing the players' commitment as the key factor. “Ultimately, the critical component are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, desire to learn and give their all to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The team approaches the Everton match dealing with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a muscle problem that is expected to keep him out for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

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

The manager referenced the team's performances as proof they are close. “You look at the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the caliber we've reached.”

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 greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the right path to winning.”