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As he approaches his six-year milestone at the helm, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his longevity in North London is directly connected to achieving success.

The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge

Arteta took over on 20 December 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup triumph a short time later. Yet, that early success remains his sole major honor following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Yes,” Arteta responded upon being asked about remaining in charge after his current deal. “However, it is about today. And a lot of things need to fall into place in the next few months as well to warrant that continuation.”

Saturday night brings the anniversary with a game facing Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal met just after his hiring was confirmed.

The Current Landscape

Given that second-placed Manchester City taking on West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal risk losing first place in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This potential shift notwithstanding Arteta managing a squad that has been plagued by over 100 injuries over the course of last season.

The manager is under a contract with 18 months to run on the extension he agreed to in 2024, yet understands fully that success is required in the immediate future.

Earning the Right

The manager expanded, emphasizing the daily requirement to validate his position. “In my view a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you address the media, how you enter the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He added, praising the strong backing from the board and owners, yet identifying the squad's dedication as most crucial. “In the final analysis, the critical component are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, hunger for knowledge and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The team approaches the Everton match dealing with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a hamstring injury that is likely to keep him out for the coming weeks.

A Different Club

Despite the fitness woes and the high-stakes environment, Arteta feels the club's “priorities and messaging” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

He pointed to the record-breaking achievements as proof they are close. “Consider the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the standard we operate at.”

He finished by saying, “That is a level that the Premier League has never experienced 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.”