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On the eve of his half-decade plus one year as manager, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his future at Arsenal is fundamentally dependent to winning major honors.

A Look Back: Six Years in Charge

Arteta assumed control on 20 December 2019 and managed to steer the team to an cup win a short time later. But, that initial silverware is still his only top-tier trophy following the departure of Unai Emery.

“I can,” he stated in response to a query about remaining in charge after his current deal. “But it’s about today. And many things must occur in the next few months as well to earn the right.”

This weekend sees the anniversary with a match versus Everton, the identical team Arsenal played the day after his role was made public.

League Position and Pressure

As second-placed Manchester City taking on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal face being knocked off the summit in the Premier League for the first time. This comes notwithstanding Arteta overseeing a squad that has suffered more than a century of fitness issues from the beginning of last season.

He is tied down by 18 months to run on the contract he inked in 2024, yet understands fully that results must come in the immediate future.

Survival in the Job

He went on to explain, emphasizing the ongoing need to prove his worth. “In my view a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you talk here, how you go into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

He stated further, commending the unwavering support from the hierarchy, while singling out the squad's dedication as paramount. “Ultimately, the critical component are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, desire to learn and dedicate themselves to the team.”

Squad Setbacks

The squad approaches the upcoming game coping with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a strain that is expected to see him miss action for several weeks.

Evolved Priorities

Even with the injury crisis and the high-stakes environment, Arteta feels the club's “priorities and messaging” are vastly different 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 club records that were shattered... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the standard we operate at.”

He finished by saying, “That is a level that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And our aim is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the proper course to winning.”