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On the eve of his sixth anniversary at the helm, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his longevity in North London is inextricably linked to achieving success.

Reflecting on: Six Years in Charge

Arteta assumed control on 20 December 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory within months. But, that first major trophy remains his lone top-tier trophy following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Yes,” Arteta responded in response to a query about remaining in charge after his current deal. “Yet it's about today. And a lot of things have to happen in the next few months as well to deserve that opportunity.”

This weekend sees the landmark with a fixture against Everton, the very same club Arsenal played just after his role was made public.

League Position and Pressure

As chasing Manchester City playing against West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal face being knocked off first place in the Premier League for the first time. This situation arises despite Arteta managing a squad that has been plagued by over 100 injuries from the beginning of last season.

He currently has 18 months to run on the extension he agreed to in 2024, yet understands fully that he must deliver sooner rather than later.

Survival in the Job

He went on to explain, stressing the ongoing need to justify his role. “I think a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you address the media, how you go into the dressing room, the signal you send.”

Arteta continued, expressing gratitude for the consistent faith from the board and owners, yet identifying the team's buy-in as the key factor. “At the end, the critical component are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, willingness to improve and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The squad approaches the upcoming game dealing with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a muscle problem that is likely to sideline him for the coming weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Despite the fitness woes and the immense scrutiny, Arteta believes the club's “focus and dialogue” are completely changed from when he first arrived.

He pointed to the record-breaking achievements as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Examine the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you 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 our ambition is to achieve more lofty ambitions. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”