Arteta: Artist of Goodison

[Evertonscouser]

Daily Mail

Arteta: Artist of Goodison
But Mikel started as defensive midfielder

By SIMON JONES
Last updated at 22:40pm on 17th August 2007

As a rite of passage it is not unknown for Spanish artists to hone their skills in France before emerging as men of substance and renown.

But not too many of them end up in Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta is no Miro or Picasso but he went to Paris as a teenager with a prosaic reputation and a desire to explore new boundaries.

It is difficult to contemplate now — following the stylish Everton midfielder's display of flair and guile that put paid to Wigan and Tottenham this week — but in Spain the fragile-looking Arteta emerged as a pivote, a defensive midfielder in Barcelona's B team.

Yet, stuck behind Camp Nou idol Pep Guardiola and overshadowed by Xavi and Iniesta, it made sense to break ranks and in Paris, with Saint- Germain, one of today's most creative football artists shaped his talents.

Under the often harsh tutelage of former France midfielder Luis Fernandez, Arteta was thrown in alongside Jay-Jay Okocha and a skilful Brazilian with a burgeoning reputation by the name of Ronaldinho.

'I had a fantastic year in Paris,' said Arteta, now 25.

'Until then I had been purely defensive minded, a [Claude] Makelele. But Fernandez made me think about what I did with the ball. I had Jay-Jay alongside me and Ronaldinho in front. Ronnie was a majestic guy but I never envisaged his career would explode at Barcelona the way it did.

'I learned so much there but Fernandez almost did me in. It's no joke. He is a great guy but he wanted to control everything. He liked to push his players hard and he fell out with Ronnie as a result.'

The education served Arteta well. He learned the language (he now speaks six), was voted France's foreign player of the year and persuaded Rangers to invest £6million in his talents.

He first caught David Moyes' eye at Ibrox but had joined Real Sociedad by the time Moyes was ensconced as Everton manager. However, Moyes got his man and is reaping the benefits as the country begins to take notice.

The Everton manager said: 'I always thought he was a decent player. But I was not sure whether he could play with another player in the middle of the park. I must say I am surprised with the way Mikel has come through and improved a lot since we signed him. But I think we changed him as well.'

Concerns arose that Arteta, at around 11st, was too light.

But, for a San Sebastian-born Basque — bred to fight against odds — he has been savvy enough to adjust to the Premier League's physical obstacles.

Midfield minder Lee Carsley said: 'He's a class act. Other teams are trying to combat him by closing him down quickly but he's used to it. He will have that throughout his career.'

Arteta added: 'I don't think it's too difficult for Spaniards to adapt if you have got pace and you know how to look after yourself on the pitch.

'The guys who have the worst job are defenders. It' s a demanding position. They don't have time to raise their head as there will be some 6ft 3in centre forward as hard as rock coming right at them. It's why Spanish defenders such as Hierro and Campo ended up in midfield instead.'

Arteta's establishment on Merseyside has undoubtedly been helped by his boyhood friend Xabi Alonso being at rivals Liverpool — the two are neighbours in the city's Albert Dock apartment complex — and the friendship he has struck up with team-mates Nuno Valente and Anderson da Silva. 'The Three Amigos' even sang Iberian songs as a trio on the club's pre-season trip to America.

His girlfriend, former Miss Spain Lorena Bernal, is pursuing a TV career in Los Angeles but it has not deterred Arteta from pledging his future to Everton with a new five-year contract — even though it may, he believes, cost him a call to the national team.

'There is a price to pay for choosing not to play for one of the big four,' he said. 'Maybe I'd have a better chance with the Spain coach if I'd moved but I'm happy with my choice. If you play well and are successful the prizes will follow.'

It's a commitment greatly appreciated by Everton fans, who demand he is given the ball from the kick-off. He has been taken to their hearts as they see him as a throwback to when Everton were renowned for skill more than doggedness.

His name has even been supplanted in well-worn jokes as one wag phoned a radio show this week to say: 'I caught Mikel Arteta in bed with the missus this week. I said to him, “Do you want bacon and eggs or cereal in the morning?”'

Chairman Bill Kenwright said: 'I'd go anywhere to watch the Spaniard. Mikel has become such an extraordinary member of this football club.'

It's been an eventful journey so far but the artist known around Goodison Park as Arteta may have found the perfect canvas to work on.

Good read so put it up here. He is an amazing player, good to see recently he is being given the credit he deserves. Him and Fernandes together in full flow will be something great to watch.