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As he approaches his half-decade plus one year in charge, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his longevity in North London is fundamentally dependent to achieving success.

Reflecting on: Six Years in Charge

The Spanish coach assumed control on the 20th of December in 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup triumph within months. But, that first major trophy stands as his sole significant piece of silverware since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” Arteta responded in response to a query about remaining in charge after his current deal. “But it’s about today. And many things need to fall into place in the coming months as well to earn the right.”

He will mark the landmark with a fixture against Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal played the day after his hiring was confirmed.

League Position and Pressure

As second-placed Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal face being knocked off top spot in the Premier League for the first time. This comes notwithstanding Arteta overseeing a squad that has been plagued by more than a century of fitness issues since the start of last season.

The manager is tied down by 18 months to run on the contract he inked in 2024, however, he knows that he must deliver promptly.

Survival in the Job

The manager expanded, highlighting the daily requirement to justify his role. “I think a manager has to earn the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you communicate, how you go into the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

Arteta continued, commending the consistent faith from the board and owners, but pinpointing the squad's dedication as paramount. “In the final analysis, the key individuals are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, desire to learn and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The team approaches the upcoming game managing a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a hamstring injury that is anticipated to see him miss action for a few weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Despite the injury crisis and the intense pressure, Arteta believes the club's “objectives and communication” are completely changed from when he began his reign.

He pointed to the record-breaking achievements as a sign they are nearing their goal. “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, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And our aim is to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”