🔗 Share this article

Ahead of marking his half-decade plus one year as manager, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that his continued role with the club is inextricably linked to winning major honors.

A Look Back: From Appointment to Present

The former Arsenal captain took over on the 20th of December in 2019 and promptly led the team to an FA Cup victory within months. Yet, that first major trophy is still his lone top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery.

“Absolutely,” the manager said 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 warrant that continuation.”

This weekend sees the six-year milestone with a match versus Everton, the identical team Arsenal played immediately following his hiring was confirmed.

Present Challenges

As trailing Manchester City set to face West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal risk losing top spot in the Premier League before their own match begins. This situation arises notwithstanding Arteta presiding over a squad that has endured more than a century of fitness issues from the beginning of last season.

He is tied down by 18 months remaining on the deal he signed in 2024, but is acutely aware that results must come promptly.

Earning the Right

The manager expanded, stressing the constant necessity 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 address the media, how you enter the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He stated further, commending the unwavering support from the club's ownership, while singling out the players' commitment as paramount. “At the end, the critical component are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a standard of focus, desire to learn and give the maximum to the team.”

Latest Fitness Blow

Arsenal approaches the upcoming game dealing with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a hamstring injury that is likely to sideline him for several weeks.

A Different Club

Even with the injury crisis and the intense pressure, Arteta believes the club's “focus and dialogue” are profoundly distinct from when he began his reign.

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

He finished by saying, “This is a standard that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And our ambition is to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the right path to winning.”