🔗 Share this article The Gunners' Boss Admits Extended Role Hinges on Securing Trophies. Ahead of marking his half-decade plus one year in charge, Mikel Arteta has stated plainly that his future at Arsenal is directly connected to delivering trophies. A Look Back: From Appointment to Present The former Arsenal captain was appointed on the 20th of December in 2019 and managed to steer the team to an cup win a short time later. But, that initial silverware stands as his sole top-tier trophy since succeeding Unai Emery. “Yes,” the manager said upon being asked about remaining in charge after his current deal. “Yet it's about today. And a lot of things need to fall into place in the coming months as well to warrant that continuation.” This weekend sees the landmark with a game facing Everton, the very same club Arsenal faced just after his appointment was announced. The Current Landscape Given that chasing Manchester City set to face West Ham in an earlier kick-off, Arsenal could be displaced first place in the Premier League before their own match begins. This situation arises even with Arteta overseeing a squad that has been plagued by over 100 injuries from the beginning of last season. He is under a contract with 18 months remaining on the extension he agreed to in 2024, but is acutely aware that results must come in the immediate future. The Manager's Mandate He went on to explain, highlighting the ongoing need to validate his position. “My belief is that a manager must deserve the right to be here tomorrow. And that is determined by how you react, how you communicate, how you step into the dressing room, the instructions you give.” He stated further, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from the club's ownership, but pinpointing the team's buy-in as the key factor. “At the end, the key individuals are those players... During my tenure, I’ve seen just players with a degree of commitment, desire to learn and give their all to the team.” Squad Setbacks The team heads into the weekend fixture coping with a fresh setback. Defender Ben White has been ruled out with a hamstring injury that is expected to see him miss action for a few weeks. Confidence in the Path Regardless of the availability issues and the high-stakes environment, Arteta believes the club's “objectives and communication” are profoundly distinct from when he began his reign. Arteta highlighted the team's performances as proof they are close. “Consider the performances, all the historical marks we surpassed... We still have yet to do that [win trophies]. But that tells you 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 aim is to achieve greater objectives. And if we do that, I think we are on the right path to winning.”