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On the eve of his half-decade plus one year in charge, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his continued role with the club is directly connected to delivering trophies.

A Look Back: From Appointment to Present

Arteta assumed control on December 20th, 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup triumph not long after. However, that initial silverware stands as his only significant piece of silverware after taking over from Unai Emery.

“I can,” Arteta responded upon being asked about staying beyond 2027. “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 anniversary with a match versus Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal played the day after his hiring was confirmed.

The Current Landscape

Given that chasing Manchester City set to face West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal face being knocked off top spot in the Premier League for the first time. This potential shift even with Arteta presiding over a squad that has suffered in excess of one hundred injury setbacks over the course of last season.

The manager currently has 18 months to run on the deal he signed in 2024, but is acutely aware that he must deliver in the immediate future.

Earning the Right

The manager expanded, highlighting the ongoing need to validate his position. “In my view a manager has to earn 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 message you convey.”

He added, expressing gratitude for the consistent faith from the hierarchy, yet identifying the players' commitment as paramount. “At the end, the critical component are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, desire to learn and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

Arsenal faces the weekend fixture coping with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a strain that is anticipated to sideline him for the coming weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Regardless of the injury crisis and the intense pressure, Arteta believes the club's “objectives and communication” are profoundly distinct from when he initially took over.

Arteta highlighted the record-breaking achievements as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Consider the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the caliber we've reached.”

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