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Ahead of marking his half-decade plus one year at the helm, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his future at Arsenal is directly connected to delivering trophies.

The Journey So Far: From Appointment to Present

Arteta took over on December 20th, 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory not long after. Yet, that initial silverware stands as his sole top-tier trophy following the departure of Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated in response to a query about staying beyond 2027. “Yet it's about today. And a lot of things need to fall into place in the coming months as well to deserve that opportunity.”

He will mark the anniversary with a match versus Everton, the identical team Arsenal played the day after his hiring was confirmed.

The Current Landscape

With chasing Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal face being knocked off first place in the Premier League before their own match begins. This situation arises despite Arteta presiding over a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries from the beginning of last season.

He is under a contract with a year and a half left on the deal he signed in 2024, however, he knows that he must deliver sooner rather than later.

The Manager's Mandate

He went on to explain, emphasizing the constant necessity to justify his role. “My belief is that a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you address the media, how you step into the dressing room, the instructions you give.”

He added, praising the unwavering support from the club's ownership, but pinpointing the players' commitment as most crucial. “At the end, the most important ones are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, desire to learn and give the maximum to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The squad heads into the upcoming game managing yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a strain that is likely to keep him out for the coming weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Regardless of the fitness woes and the high-stakes environment, Arteta feels the club's “focus and dialogue” are profoundly distinct from when he initially took over.

Arteta highlighted the team's performances as proof they are close. “Examine the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the level we are at.”

He finished by saying, “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 right path to winning.”