marie
07-28-2007, 06:26 AM
Arteta has been a surprise for all. He was a bad footballplayer in Real Sociedad. This demonstrates that the Spanish League and the Premier, are two different worlds. A player cannot work in one, and to be excellent in other one...
Mikel Arteta's wild ovation in LA should be the first of many more
Jul 27 2007 by Dominic King with the Blues in Los Angeles, Liverpool Echo
LAST year The Proclaimers, this year The Three Amigos; Mikel Arteta’s stint during Everton’s annual karaoke evening is fast becoming one of the highlights of the season.
In Dallas 12 months ago, Arteta had his team-mates in hysterics with a rendition of I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) and it was the same again here on Wednesday evening when, with the help of Anderson de Silva and Nuno Valente, he performed a traditional Iberian song.
It might not have been a number that had the rest of the squad singing along but the gusto with which Arteta, de Silva and Valente went about their routine ensured the reception they received was just as memorable.
But, then again, Arteta should be used to standing ovations. Everton’s outstanding talent in the past two years, his ability to turn games with moments of brilliance mean his position as the Gwladys Street’s darling is unrivalled.
With that in mind, the thought of him playing in another team’s colours would be enough to have most - if not all - Blues breaking out in a cold sweat yet negotiations earlier this summer mean there is little chance of that happening in the future.
Both he and Tim Cahill agreed new, improved five-year deals and their decisions to commit should ensure Everton get the very best from them; certainly they will be key to success at home and abroad come August 11.
Not surprisingly, Arteta was festooned with offers when the most recent campaign drew to a close yet discussions with David Moyes and Bill Kenwright convinced him that would not be wise to move elsewhere.
“I liked everything they said to me,” revealed Arteta. “They told me that they are going to build a really strong team and bring in new players. We are moving to a nice new training ground, we will have a nice new stadium and we want to be big.
“I want to be part of that. Obviously there were times when we were talking that things were slow. I was in one position, they were in another but that was the only time I wondered. I always wanted to stay here. I was clear with that.
“They were the same. I never wanted to leave. Obviously there was a chance for me to go and many teams wanted me. Getting the deal took longer than I wanted but everything was fine and everyone is now really happy. I’m so happy to be here.”
Now he has put pen-to-paper, he hopes others will follow suit. Moyes is not exactly overwhelmed with numbers and a couple of additions before Wigan Athletic arrive at Goodison Park two weeks tomorrow would not go amiss.
Manchester United’s Alan Smith and Wigan left-back Leighton Baines are high on Everton’s wanted list and would certainly add an extra dimension to the squad if they joined, also taking the pressure off other players.
A European campaign means fatigue is an impostor with which Arteta and company must deal and he would be devastated if the Blues let slip all last year’s hard work by failing to qualify for the UEFA Cup’s group stages at the very least.
“We can’t lose that chance,” he said. “We can’t miss out. This club needs that and all the players need to feel that we are on the top level. I think Europe is going to be massive for us this year. We need to try to have a really good run.
“A run in Europe can sometimes impact on your league form but we have to be prepared for that. It wouldn’t be the first time that happened and we know that from when we played in Europe two years ago. Hopefully we have learned from that.
“We won’t be able to keep playing the same players all the time. 50 or 60 games a season is crazy and if you look at the teams who do well in two or three competitions, they are always changing their players around. We are so short of numbers.
“We are a little bit worried, as we know what will happen if two or three players get injured. We will have a massive responsibility to each other to keep fit and playing at our best levels.
“We are a team that should attract top players but I don’t know if we can compete financially. Obviously we would like to see more signings - strikers, midfielders, everything. Maybe the squad we have now won’t be enough for four competitions.”
Yet if the signings fail to arrive, there will be no fit of pique from Arteta. He, like the rest of his colleagues, will just shrug his shoulders and get on with things and concentrate on securing a confidence-boosting victory on the opening day..
“That is so important,” he agreed. “We have got to start strong like we did last year as we know how crucial that can be. That’s the thing. We have got to get off to a good start at home against Wigan.
“But we are a strong team, a strong unit and we are great with each other. That is something not so many teams have. If we can strengthen the team, so much the better. If we can’t, we will just get on with it.
“Obviously we want to get better and better and better. We want to be able to compete with top six or seven, at the very least. We don’t want to be left behind and I think we have got a massive chance to move forward.”
Particularly if the best little Spaniard Evertonians know keeps hitting the right notes.
Mikel Arteta's wild ovation in LA should be the first of many more
Jul 27 2007 by Dominic King with the Blues in Los Angeles, Liverpool Echo
LAST year The Proclaimers, this year The Three Amigos; Mikel Arteta’s stint during Everton’s annual karaoke evening is fast becoming one of the highlights of the season.
In Dallas 12 months ago, Arteta had his team-mates in hysterics with a rendition of I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) and it was the same again here on Wednesday evening when, with the help of Anderson de Silva and Nuno Valente, he performed a traditional Iberian song.
It might not have been a number that had the rest of the squad singing along but the gusto with which Arteta, de Silva and Valente went about their routine ensured the reception they received was just as memorable.
But, then again, Arteta should be used to standing ovations. Everton’s outstanding talent in the past two years, his ability to turn games with moments of brilliance mean his position as the Gwladys Street’s darling is unrivalled.
With that in mind, the thought of him playing in another team’s colours would be enough to have most - if not all - Blues breaking out in a cold sweat yet negotiations earlier this summer mean there is little chance of that happening in the future.
Both he and Tim Cahill agreed new, improved five-year deals and their decisions to commit should ensure Everton get the very best from them; certainly they will be key to success at home and abroad come August 11.
Not surprisingly, Arteta was festooned with offers when the most recent campaign drew to a close yet discussions with David Moyes and Bill Kenwright convinced him that would not be wise to move elsewhere.
“I liked everything they said to me,” revealed Arteta. “They told me that they are going to build a really strong team and bring in new players. We are moving to a nice new training ground, we will have a nice new stadium and we want to be big.
“I want to be part of that. Obviously there were times when we were talking that things were slow. I was in one position, they were in another but that was the only time I wondered. I always wanted to stay here. I was clear with that.
“They were the same. I never wanted to leave. Obviously there was a chance for me to go and many teams wanted me. Getting the deal took longer than I wanted but everything was fine and everyone is now really happy. I’m so happy to be here.”
Now he has put pen-to-paper, he hopes others will follow suit. Moyes is not exactly overwhelmed with numbers and a couple of additions before Wigan Athletic arrive at Goodison Park two weeks tomorrow would not go amiss.
Manchester United’s Alan Smith and Wigan left-back Leighton Baines are high on Everton’s wanted list and would certainly add an extra dimension to the squad if they joined, also taking the pressure off other players.
A European campaign means fatigue is an impostor with which Arteta and company must deal and he would be devastated if the Blues let slip all last year’s hard work by failing to qualify for the UEFA Cup’s group stages at the very least.
“We can’t lose that chance,” he said. “We can’t miss out. This club needs that and all the players need to feel that we are on the top level. I think Europe is going to be massive for us this year. We need to try to have a really good run.
“A run in Europe can sometimes impact on your league form but we have to be prepared for that. It wouldn’t be the first time that happened and we know that from when we played in Europe two years ago. Hopefully we have learned from that.
“We won’t be able to keep playing the same players all the time. 50 or 60 games a season is crazy and if you look at the teams who do well in two or three competitions, they are always changing their players around. We are so short of numbers.
“We are a little bit worried, as we know what will happen if two or three players get injured. We will have a massive responsibility to each other to keep fit and playing at our best levels.
“We are a team that should attract top players but I don’t know if we can compete financially. Obviously we would like to see more signings - strikers, midfielders, everything. Maybe the squad we have now won’t be enough for four competitions.”
Yet if the signings fail to arrive, there will be no fit of pique from Arteta. He, like the rest of his colleagues, will just shrug his shoulders and get on with things and concentrate on securing a confidence-boosting victory on the opening day..
“That is so important,” he agreed. “We have got to start strong like we did last year as we know how crucial that can be. That’s the thing. We have got to get off to a good start at home against Wigan.
“But we are a strong team, a strong unit and we are great with each other. That is something not so many teams have. If we can strengthen the team, so much the better. If we can’t, we will just get on with it.
“Obviously we want to get better and better and better. We want to be able to compete with top six or seven, at the very least. We don’t want to be left behind and I think we have got a massive chance to move forward.”
Particularly if the best little Spaniard Evertonians know keeps hitting the right notes.