Everton are not the same without Arteta

Everton have made a really disappointing start to their season. They sit thirteenth in the Premier League with just three wins out of their first ten league games.

Horrendous

They have had one or two horrendous results such as the 6-1 opening day defeat at home to Arsenal and the 5-0 humiliation at Benfica in the Europa League.

Before the season started many people thought that David Moyes would take his team for another assault on the top four and achieve at least a top six finish.

Creativity

So far it hasn’t worked out that way and not only have results been poor, many people have commented on how dour the side is to watch and the lack of any genuine creativity within the side.

Many of these issues and problems can be explained in just two words. Mikel Arteta.

The player, who had become the very heartbeat of the successful and entertaining Everton side injured his cruciate knee ligament back in February after just three minutes of a Premier League game at Newcastle.

Troublesome

After expecting to be out for just six months his rehabilitation has proved particularly troublesome. He had surgery in Barcelona originally but has recently required follow-up surgery after picking up an infection.

David Moyes said,

“Mikel has needed to have a ‘wash-out’ on his knee after doctors found an infection. It is a setback for him. However, at the moment we can’t say how long it has put him back.”

It is not just a setback for the player himself, it is a real setback for Moyes and the Everton fans who are desperate to see their play-maker back in the blue shirt.

Bargain

The midfielder signed for Everton back in July 2005 from Spanish side Real Sociedad. He cost what has turned out to be a bargain basement £2 million.

After starting his career with the Barcelona B squad and a short spell on loan at PSG in France, the twenty-seven year old Spaniard moved to Glasgow Rangers. He had one successful season there when he helped his side to a domestic treble. His second season in Scotland saw him suffer with injuries and a loss of form.

Regular

He moved on to his hometown club, Real Sociedad, but failed to establish a regular first team place before David Moyes took him to Everton.

Arteta played twelve times for the Spanish under twenty-one side but has never gained full international recognition. He is certainly unlucky to be of the same Spanish generation as the likes of Xavi, Alonso, Fabregas and Senna as if he came from almost any other country he would be an international regular.

Award

At Everton he has scored twenty-three goals in one hundred and fifty appearances in all competitions. He has twice won the Everton player of the season award and in 2007 was named as Sky Sports’ midfielder of the year.

There is no doubt that Arteta is a class act and there is equally no doubt that Everton’s current situation would be far improved if they could only get him fit.