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Ahead of marking his sixth anniversary in charge, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his longevity in North London is directly connected to achieving success.

A Look Back: The Arteta Era

Arteta was appointed on 20 December 2019 and soon guided the team to an cup win not long after. Yet, that first major trophy is still his only top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery.

“I can,” Arteta responded upon being asked about staying beyond 2027. “However, it is about today. And many things need to fall into place in the coming months as well to deserve that opportunity.”

He will mark the landmark with a match versus Everton, the very same club Arsenal faced just after his hiring was confirmed.

League Position and Pressure

With chasing Manchester City set to face West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal risk losing first place in the Premier League before their own match begins. This situation arises even with Arteta managing a squad that has endured over 100 injuries from the beginning of last season.

Arteta is tied down by 18 months to run on the extension he agreed to in 2024, however, he knows that results must come sooner rather than later.

Earning the Right

The manager expanded, highlighting the ongoing need to validate his position. “My belief is that a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that’s how how you react, how you talk here, how you go into the dressing room, the message you convey.”

Arteta continued, praising the unwavering support from the board and owners, but pinpointing the squad's dedication as the key factor. “At the end, the most important ones are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, willingness to improve and give their all to the team.”

Injury Concerns

The squad approaches the Everton match coping with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a strain that is expected to sideline him for the coming weeks.

Confidence in the Path

Regardless of the fitness woes and the intense pressure, Arteta feels the club's “focus and dialogue” are vastly different from when he began his reign.

The manager referenced the squad's displays as evidence of progress. “Consider the performances, all the club records that were shattered... We still haven’t managed to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the standard we operate at.”

In closing, the manager stated, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has not witnessed in the past. And our aim is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the right path to winning.”