🔗 Share this article

On the eve of his half-decade plus one year as manager, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his future at Arsenal is inextricably linked to achieving success.

The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge

The former Arsenal captain took over on the 20th of December in 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup triumph not long after. However, that first major trophy stands as his only major honor following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated in response to a query about staying beyond 2027. “But it’s about today. And numerous factors need to fall into place in the coming months as well to earn the right.”

He will mark the six-year milestone with a match versus Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced the day after his hiring was confirmed.

League Position and Pressure

As chasing Manchester City set to face West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal risk losing the summit in the Premier League for the first time. This situation arises despite Arteta managing a squad that has endured over 100 injuries since the start of last season.

He is tied down by a year and a half left on the contract he inked in 2024, but is acutely aware that results must come promptly.

Survival in the Job

Arteta elaborated, emphasizing the ongoing need to validate his position. “In my view a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you address the media, how you enter the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He stated further, praising the strong backing from the club's ownership, while singling out the players' commitment as the key factor. “At the end, the critical component are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, hunger for knowledge and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The team heads into the Everton match dealing with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a strain that is expected to keep him out for a few weeks.

A Different Club

Regardless of the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta feels the club's “focus and dialogue” are profoundly distinct from when he initially took over.

The manager referenced the record-breaking achievements as proof they are close. “Examine the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the level we are at.”

In closing, the manager stated, “This is a standard that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And our ambition is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the right path to winning.”