🔗 Share this article The Gunners' Boss Acknowledges Extended Tenure Hinges on Winning Trophies. On the eve of his half-decade plus one year as manager, Mikel Arteta has admitted that his continued role with the club is directly connected to achieving success. The Journey So Far: Six Years in Charge The former Arsenal captain took over on 20 December 2019 and promptly led the team to an cup win a short time later. Yet, that early success remains his only major honor after taking over from Unai Emery. “Absolutely,” Arteta responded upon being asked about staying beyond 2027. “But it’s about today. And a lot of things have to happen in the coming months as well to earn the right.” He will mark the landmark with a fixture against Everton, the exact opponent Arsenal played the day after his hiring was confirmed. Present Challenges With trailing Manchester City playing against West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal face being knocked off top spot in the Premier League before their own match begins. This potential shift notwithstanding Arteta managing a squad that has suffered in excess of one hundred injury setbacks from the beginning of last season. The manager is tied down by 18 months to run on the contract he inked in 2024, but is acutely aware that success is required in the immediate future. Earning the Right The manager expanded, emphasizing 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 communicate, how you step into the dressing room, the instructions you give.” Arteta continued, commending the unwavering support from the club's ownership, but pinpointing the squad's dedication as most crucial. “In the final analysis, the most important ones are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a level of attention, willingness to improve and give the maximum to the team.” Latest Fitness Blow Arsenal approaches the Everton match managing yet another injury. Defender Ben White has been sidelined with a muscle problem that is anticipated to keep him out for a few weeks. Evolved Priorities Despite the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta is confident the club's “objectives and communication” are vastly different from when he initially took over. The manager referenced the team's performances as a sign they are nearing their goal. “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 shows the level we are at.” He finished by saying, “It represents a quality that the Premier League has not seen before in the past. And our ambition is to achieve even higher goals. And if we do that, I think we are on the correct trajectory to winning.”