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On the eve of his six-year milestone at the helm, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his longevity in North London is inextricably linked to winning major honors.

A Look Back: From Appointment to Present

Arteta took over on 20 December 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory not long after. However, that early success remains his sole major honor following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” Arteta responded upon being asked about remaining in charge after his current deal. “Yet it's about today. And numerous factors must occur in the near future as well to earn the right.”

This weekend sees the landmark with a match versus Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal met the day after his role was made public.

League Position and Pressure

Given that trailing Manchester City playing against West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal risk losing top spot in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This comes notwithstanding Arteta presiding over a squad that has endured more than a century of fitness issues since the start of last season.

He is under a contract with 18 months remaining on the extension he agreed to in 2024, but is acutely aware that results must come in the immediate future.

The Manager's Mandate

The manager expanded, emphasizing the ongoing need to prove his worth. “In my view a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you talk here, how you enter the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

Arteta continued, commending the consistent faith from the board and owners, while singling out the players' commitment as paramount. “Ultimately, the key individuals are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, hunger for knowledge and give their all to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

The team faces the Everton match managing an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a strain that is expected to see him miss action for several weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Regardless of the fitness woes and the immense scrutiny, Arteta believes the club's “focus and dialogue” are profoundly distinct from when he first arrived.

He pointed to the team's performances as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Consider the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the standard we operate at.”

Arteta concluded, “This is a standard that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And our ambition is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”