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As he approaches his sixth anniversary at the helm, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his longevity in North London is inextricably linked to achieving success.

The Journey So Far: From Appointment to Present

The Spanish coach assumed control on the 20th of December in 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup victory a short time later. Yet, that first major trophy stands as his sole major honor since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Yes,” the manager said when questioned about remaining in charge after his current deal. “Yet it's about today. And a lot of things need to fall into place in the near future as well to earn the right.”

Saturday night brings the six-year milestone with a game facing Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced immediately following his hiring was confirmed.

Present Challenges

As chasing Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal risk losing first place in the Premier League before their own match begins. This comes even with Arteta presiding over a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries since the start of last season.

Arteta is under a contract with 18 months to run on the contract he inked in 2024, but is acutely aware that he must deliver sooner rather than later.

Survival in the Job

The manager expanded, highlighting the constant necessity to validate his position. “My belief is that a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you communicate, how you step into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He added, praising the consistent faith from the club's ownership, while singling out the squad's dedication as most crucial. “In the final analysis, the key individuals are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, hunger for knowledge and give the maximum to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The squad approaches the weekend fixture managing an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a hamstring injury that is likely to sideline him for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Even with the availability issues and the immense scrutiny, Arteta feels the club's “priorities and messaging” are vastly different from when he began his reign.

Arteta highlighted the record-breaking achievements as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Examine the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the level we are at.”

Arteta concluded, “That is a level that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And we want to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”