🔗 Share this article Mikel Arteta Acknowledges Extended Role Depends on Securing Trophies. Ahead of marking his half-decade plus one year in charge, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his longevity in North London is directly connected to delivering trophies. The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge Arteta took over on the 20th of December in 2019 and soon guided the team to an FA Cup triumph not long after. But, that first major trophy remains his sole major honor following the departure of Unai Emery. “I can,” Arteta responded when questioned about his future past 2027. “But it’s about today. And numerous factors need to fall into place in the next few months as well to deserve that opportunity.” This weekend sees the landmark with a game facing Everton, the very same club Arsenal played the day after his appointment was announced. The Current Landscape With trailing Manchester City set to face West Ham earlier in the day, Arsenal face being knocked off the summit in the Premier League for the first time. This potential shift even with Arteta managing a squad that has been plagued by more than a century of fitness issues over the course of last season. He currently has 18 months to run on the extension he agreed to in 2024, however, he knows that results must come promptly. The Manager's Mandate The manager expanded, emphasizing the ongoing need to validate his position. “My belief is that a manager needs to warrant the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you talk here, how you go into the dressing room, the message you convey.” He added, expressing gratitude for the strong backing from the board and owners, while singling out the players' commitment as paramount. “At the end, the critical component are those players... For six years, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, hunger for knowledge and give the maximum to the team.” Latest Fitness Blow Arsenal approaches the upcoming game managing a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a muscle problem that is anticipated to keep him out for a few weeks. A Different Club Even with the fitness woes and the immense scrutiny, Arteta feels the club's “priorities and messaging” are vastly different from when he first arrived. He pointed to the team's performances as a sign they are nearing their goal. “Consider 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.” In closing, the manager stated, “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.”