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Ahead of marking his six-year milestone as manager, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his continued role with the club is directly connected to achieving success.

A Look Back: Six Years in Charge

The former Arsenal captain assumed control on the 20th of December in 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory within months. But, that first major trophy stands as his sole significant piece of silverware after taking over from Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” he stated upon being asked about staying beyond 2027. “Yet it's about today. And a lot of things need to fall into place in the near future as well to deserve that opportunity.”

This weekend sees the landmark with a fixture against Everton, the very same club Arsenal met the day after his appointment was announced.

Present Challenges

As trailing Manchester City playing against West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal face being knocked off first place in the Premier League before their own match begins. This comes notwithstanding Arteta overseeing a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries from the beginning of last season.

He currently has a year and a half left on the deal he signed in 2024, however, he knows that results must come in the immediate future.

The Manager's Mandate

Arteta elaborated, emphasizing the constant necessity to validate his position. “In my view a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you talk here, how you step into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He added, praising the consistent faith from the board and owners, while singling out the players' commitment as the key factor. “Ultimately, the most important ones are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, willingness to improve and give their all to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The squad approaches the Everton match dealing with an additional absence. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a muscle problem that is likely to see him miss action for the coming weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Even with the fitness woes and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “focus and dialogue” are completely changed from when he began his reign.

Arteta highlighted the team's performances as a sign they are nearing their goal. “You look at the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you the standard we operate at.”

In closing, the manager stated, “This is a standard that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And our aim is to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”