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As he approaches his half-decade plus one year at the helm, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his continued role with the club is directly connected to winning major honors.

A Look Back: From Appointment to Present

Arteta took over on 20 December 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup victory a short time later. But, that early success stands as his lone major honor since succeeding Unai Emery.

“I can,” the manager said in response to a query about staying beyond 2027. “However, it is about today. And numerous factors must occur in the near future as well to warrant that continuation.”

He will mark the anniversary with a game facing Everton, the very same club Arsenal played the day after his role was made public.

The Current Landscape

As chasing Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal could be displaced top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This potential shift despite Arteta overseeing a squad that has endured in excess of one hundred injury setbacks over the course of last season.

He is tied down by a year and a half left on the extension he agreed to in 2024, however, he knows that results must come promptly.

The Manager's Mandate

Arteta elaborated, highlighting the ongoing need to validate his position. “My belief is that a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you talk here, how you go into the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He stated further, commending the unwavering support from the hierarchy, while singling out the squad's dedication as the key factor. “Ultimately, the key individuals are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, willingness to improve and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

Arsenal faces the weekend fixture managing a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a hamstring injury that is expected to see him miss action for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Even with the fitness woes and the intense pressure, Arteta feels the club's “objectives and communication” are vastly different from when he began his reign.

Arteta highlighted the team's performances as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Examine the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the level we are at.”

He finished by saying, “This is a standard 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 right path to winning.”