🔗 Share this article Mikel Arteta Admits Extended Tenure Depends on Winning Major Honors. Ahead of marking his half-decade plus one year as manager, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his longevity in North London is directly connected to winning major honors. Reflecting on: Six Years in Charge Arteta took over on 20 December 2019 and managed to steer the team to an cup win not long after. However, that early success remains his lone significant piece of silverware following the departure of Unai Emery. “Yes,” the manager said when questioned 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 warrant that continuation.” He will mark the landmark with a match versus Everton, the very same club Arsenal played immediately following his hiring was confirmed. Present Challenges As second-placed Manchester City taking on West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal could be displaced the summit in the Premier League before their own match begins. This situation arises despite Arteta managing a squad that has suffered over 100 injuries since the start of last season. The manager is tied down by 18 months to run on the deal he signed in 2024, yet understands fully that he must deliver in the immediate future. Survival in the Job The manager expanded, highlighting the constant necessity 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 communicate, how you go into the dressing room, the instructions you give.” He added, commending the consistent faith from the hierarchy, but pinpointing the squad's dedication as most crucial. “At the end, the critical component are those players... Over this half-decade, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, willingness to improve and give the maximum to the team.” Injury Concerns The team heads into the weekend fixture coping with yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been declared unavailable with a muscle problem that is likely to sideline him for several weeks. Confidence in the Path Despite the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta feels the club's “focus and dialogue” are vastly different from when he first arrived. Arteta highlighted the team's performances as proof they are close. “You look at the performances, all the records that we... were breaking... We still haven't been able to do that [win trophies]. But that indicates the caliber we've reached.” Arteta concluded, “That is a level 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 correct trajectory to winning.”