Arteta

[Royal Blue Jersey]

I've never tried to be too over-zealous when considering our players as international "quality" although that's a misleading statement. Darren Bent is international quality, but Peter Crouch isn't. Yet, guess which one is in the england team?
I've considered, for about a year now, a certain player's prospects and after a bit of a mild first half (by his standards), he got up and turned the heat on Blackburn in the second. He was oustanding, and in my opinion, there's still more to come. He can get better. I'm talking, of course, about Mikel Arteta.


So, why isn't he there? People talk about difficult competition in similar areas, but I find that argument grows weaker by the day. Xavi, Luis Garcia, Albelda, Angulo, Iniesta...I'd fancy Arteta over them most days, and on his good day he's better than Alonso. I can't make sense of it, because if they're giving chances to the likes of Marcos Senna and Juanito, it should be a relative formality for Arteta to break in. I think him and Fabregas would be a great midfield pairing. Let's remember, Arteta will surely step up his game (buoyed confidence e.t.c) should he make the international team, and as I said earlier, he can get better. Garcia in particular is a funny one; Liverpool connections all over again. Arteta has got pace, defending and hard work (especially by a Spanish midfielder's standards), trickery, great passing ability, and this season he's even adding goals to his array of skills. That sealed it for me, in a way. His goals against Bolton, Wigan, Sheffield United, quality. Bolton was just sheer brilliance.
I just hope Spain don't deny him his chance any longer because he deserves not only a call up, but a definate first team place. I think some of us blues think he plays for everton, he can't be good enough. I know certainly thats what the men in power think and it's probably why he hasn't been picked.
Believe it people. He really is good enough.

[GrandOldTeam]

Couldn't agree anymore mate.

Although it could be in the world football forum, i'll move it to the Everton forum :)

[Cal]

Another great analysis RBJ and SB.

I cant see Arteta leaving just yet, but you never know, Im not sure if hes good enough for someone like United (playing week in, week out that is).

Hopefully he will get a call up soon and that will re-assure him that Everton is the place to be.

[Royal Blue Jersey]

Their main midfield would probably be
Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs

which is pretty strong, especially the wingers - both fantastic players, Carrick is coming on, Scholes has vast experience. With work I think he'd break in, no doubt. He'd certainly be top of the subs at least, he's a far cry from John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher isn't he?

[chicoazul]

I like him but can't help but feel he's only one big injury away from being a worse player.

He'll probably end up somewhere like Arsenal for a big profit on what we bought him.

[Hayee]

the only risk is if Mikky gets a call up, hpw many clubs will come in for him?
may i remind you of rooney, ball, jeffears, judas barmby...

[micknick]

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=452718&CPID=8&clid=11&lid=&title=Arteta+seeking+'dream'+move
Rearing its head about him moving again.

[chicoazul]

He wont end up staying for too long. Shame as hes class.

We need to make sure we get a big fee for him, and have someone lined up.

[Robert Jarvis]

Let's face it he is worth more than 7 mill to us, who would replace him for that price??

[Neiler]

Let's face it he is worth more than 7 mill to us, who would replace him for that price??

I doubht AS whoever they are flew to New York for that level of a quote of to merseyside either. Fabrication!

[Dylan]

Or we could go for the complete consipracy theory slant and say the media is trying to unsettle him so a decent Everton player leaves us, further casting us in the ****es shadow.

[monty]

Arteta is a class player but it won't be the end of the world if he goes. What we need to do is ensure that we get mucho euro for him:P :P :P

[Bruce Wayne]

Arteta came through the Barcelona ranks so I can't imagine it's his dream to play for any side in Madrid, especially as he's a Basque by birth.

[Dylan]

Excellent point, but that might be like a boyhood blue saying it was a dream to play for United.

[monty]

Adulation by his countrymen is bound to mean more than anything we can give him. I think DM better sit him down and tell him the story of Tommy Gravesen, dreams to nightmares in months.:shock:

[Robert Jarvis]

Too often I have seen that. Like getting a vote of confidence and saying, I will be here for the start of the season

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Adulation by his countrymen is bound to mean more than anything we can give him. I think DM better sit him down and tell him the story of Tommy Gravesen, dreams to nightmares in months.:shock:


How true that statement was Monty. Tommy G. lost in the shuffle.(y)

[Royal Blue Jersey]

I miss Arteta.

[Jayhow15]

I miss Arteta.

Just read the original post, Arteta was a class act but have him over Xavi and Iniesta? Made me chuckle - despite it being from 6 years ago, they were then as they are now, class !!

[WuTangToffee]

Always thought he was a tad overrated.

[bignev23]

I miss Arteta. I miss the good Arteta, he was stale in the end and used to frustrate me because i knew he had it. Don't really think his move to arsenal has been a massive success either,he`s been ok like but not produced anything like when he was at his best for us.

[Rook]

He's been a decent starter at Arsenal. Nothing more nothing less. He will never the be the Arteta that we had pre-knee injuries. The team was built around him, possess the ball, get fouled, swing a free kick into a murders row consisting of Cahill, Lescott, Saha, Yobo etc. It was amazing that we had him for so long playing at a such high level given that he was by far the most fouled player in the prem for 3 straight years.

It didn't work his last season here because he and Fellani were a terrible midfield partnership. Arteta really had no role with Fellani running things in the midfield. I wonder how he would do with this year's Fellani up front and him back at DM.

[degsy]

I've never tried to be too over-zealous when considering our players as international "quality" although that's a misleading statement. Darren Bent is international quality, but Peter Crouch isn't. Yet, guess which one is in the england team?
I've considered, for about a year now, a certain player's prospects and after a bit of a mild first half (by his standards), he got up and turned the heat on Blackburn in the second. He was oustanding, and in my opinion, there's still more to come. He can get better. I'm talking, of course, about Mikel Arteta.


So, why isn't he there? People talk about difficult competition in similar areas, but I find that argument grows weaker by the day. Xavi, Luis Garcia, Albelda, Angulo, Iniesta...I'd fancy Arteta over them most days, and on his good day he's better than Alonso. I can't make sense of it, because if they're giving chances to the likes of Marcos Senna and Juanito, it should be a relative formality for Arteta to break in. I think him and Fabregas would be a great midfield pairing. Let's remember, Arteta will surely step up his game (buoyed confidence e.t.c) should he make the international team, and as I said earlier, he can get better. Garcia in particular is a funny one; Liverpool connections all over again. Arteta has got pace, defending and hard work (especially by a Spanish midfielder's standards), trickery, great passing ability, and this season he's even adding goals to his array of skills. That sealed it for me, in a way. His goals against Bolton, Wigan, Sheffield United, quality. Bolton was just sheer brilliance.
I just hope Spain don't deny him his chance any longer because he deserves not only a call up, but a definate first team place. I think some of us blues think he plays for everton, he can't be good enough. I know certainly thats what the men in power think and it's probably why he hasn't been picked.
Believe it people. He really is good enough.

Was good enough, not any longer, by 4 yrs or whatever

[Julio Ananas]

HAS COMMITTED MOST FOULS OF ANY PLAYER IN ENTIRE PREM