🔗 Share this article Mikel Arteta Acknowledges Extended Tenure Hinges on Winning Trophies. As he approaches his half-decade plus one year as manager, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his future at Arsenal is inextricably linked to winning major honors. Reflecting on: From Appointment to Present The Spanish coach assumed control on 20 December 2019 and managed to steer the team to an FA Cup victory within months. However, that initial silverware remains his only significant piece of silverware since succeeding Unai Emery. “I can,” he stated upon being asked about staying beyond 2027. “Yet it's about today. And a lot of things must occur in the coming months as well to warrant that continuation.” This weekend sees the six-year milestone with a fixture against Everton, the identical team Arsenal faced just after his hiring was confirmed. Present Challenges Given that trailing Manchester City set to face West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal face being knocked off the summit in the Premier League prior to their fixture. This situation arises despite Arteta overseeing a squad that has suffered in excess of one hundred injury setbacks since the start of last season. He currently has 18 months remaining on the deal he signed in 2024, but is acutely aware that he must deliver promptly. The Manager's Mandate The manager expanded, stressing the ongoing need to justify his role. “In my view a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that depends on how you react, how you address the media, how you go into the dressing room, the signal you send.” He stated further, praising the strong backing from the board and owners, but pinpointing the squad's dedication as most crucial. “In the final analysis, the key individuals are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, hunger for knowledge and give the maximum to the team.” Latest Fitness Blow The team approaches the upcoming game coping with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a strain that is expected to sideline him for a few weeks. A Different Club Even with the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta feels the club's “priorities and messaging” are completely changed from when he first arrived. Arteta highlighted the team's performances as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Consider the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that shows the level we are at.” Arteta concluded, “That is a level that the Premier League has never experienced in the past. And our aim is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”