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As he approaches his half-decade plus one year as manager, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his longevity in North London is fundamentally dependent to winning major honors.

A Look Back: Six Years in Charge

Arteta was appointed on the 20th of December in 2019 and managed to steer the team to an cup win not long after. But, that early success is still his sole top-tier trophy following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated when questioned about staying beyond 2027. “Yet it's about today. And many things have to happen in the near future as well to deserve that opportunity.”

This weekend sees the six-year milestone with a game facing Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal faced immediately following his appointment was announced.

League Position and Pressure

With second-placed Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal could be displaced first place in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This situation arises despite Arteta presiding over a squad that has suffered more than a century of fitness issues from the beginning of last season.

The manager currently has 18 months to run on the deal he signed in 2024, but is acutely aware that success is required sooner rather than later.

Survival in the Job

The manager expanded, highlighting the ongoing need to justify his role. “I think a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you communicate, how you enter the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He added, expressing gratitude for the consistent faith from the board and owners, while singling out the squad's dedication as paramount. “Ultimately, the critical component are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, willingness to improve and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The team heads into the Everton match managing an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a muscle problem that is expected to sideline him for the coming weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Regardless of the fitness woes and the intense pressure, Arteta believes the club's “priorities and messaging” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

He pointed to the squad's displays as a sign they are nearing their goal. “You look at the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you 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 even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”