Ready and Willing

The Blues who have sorely missed Mikel Arteta of late, may get the chance to see him in action before the season is out. Moyesy has missed the Spanish geniuses creativity, and although the Brum game may come to early for him, Mikky for one is determined to play some part before the season ends. Our Tater also has conformed to all Blues fans that he has no intention of leaving Goodison, after speculation linked him with manure when he was spotted at Old Trafford last Friday night.

Moyesy says: "He won't write himself off for the season. He has made himself available so we will see how he is for Birmingham. He has been carrying an injury so he had injections last weekend."

Mikky says: "It may be too soon for Saturday, but I am working very hard to get back as soon as I can and Saturday is still not out of the question.

I am really happy here and I have a lot of care for this club and the people here. I really appreciate how the club and the people have been with me from the first day so it is not in my mind to leave." (20/04/06)

Magic Feet

With another weeks training under his belt, Our Tater is feeling fine and Moyesy hopes his midfield Maestro with the magic feet will work do the business this weekend.

Moyesy says: "He came back last weekend but I think it was noticeable he wasn't 100 per cent. The injury was fine but because he had not trained for 14 days he was a little rusty. He wasn't as sharp as he could have been but we took the gamble and we hoped that, with us leading 2-1, introducing Mikel would help us get the third goal. To be fair to him, he created a number of chances late on we could have got a winner from. I hope the half hour we gave him will benefit him this weekend at Charlton. He has trained harder this week and he is looking more like himself." (06/04/06)

Mikky By a Mile

Last season's undoubted Player of The Season, Tim Cahill is crediting Mikky Arteta with this season's accolade already. Few will disagree with the Aussie, after seeing the Spanish magician cast his spell over the Goodison faithful over the last twelve months. Tommy who, I hear you say. I wonder who is running away with bluekipper's starman this season.

Tiny says: "Mikel has been our player of the season this year, and what he does on the ball is obviously a big part of what we do in the games. He creates a lot and is really effective when he gets the ball, so he was a massive loss over the last couple of weeks but we have also got players who can do a great job. It is a team game and we are doing really well at the minute so we have just got to keep going." (04/04/06)

Hopeful Of A Return

Will it be 'Thumbs Up' on Mikky's fitness for Saturday's game at home to the Black cats?

Moyesy says: "I hope Mikel is back for Sunderland. He didn't feel it was right for Saturday but in the end it could have been a game where he would have been important for us.If you lose your better players like Nigel Martyn, Nuno Valente and Mikel Arteta it has an impact because for us, a team like Everton, we had a settled side and those players have proved to be important to us.

You need the players who have been with you all the time to be fit. At the moment we have two or three out. We have a good squad with people back and available but with those three out it has had an impact." (30/03/06)

Nunca seré un redshite

Our tater, and he'll always be our tater has come out dispelled wild rumours that he would be moving to the dark side of the park next season. He said he could never join the redshite and betray the thousands of Evertonians he has got to know and love and in fact can't wait to play against the Hillbillies on Saturday.

Mikky says: "No way. No. There has been so much speculation as well, people in the street have been asking me about it. I'm really honest in saying I'm not going there. Definitely not. We are really looking forward to it. We want to go there and do something important. The way we lost the first game at home, we are going to go out there and try to make a good fight." (23/06/03)

No Revenge

Mikky Arteta is having no thoughts of revenge against Villa on Saturday, but he is happy just to concentrate on playing the football that has pushed Everton from relegation candidates to European hopefuls in a few short months. With the Blues taking 20 points out of the last 27 available, the Spanish play maker has certainly played his part in Everton's renaissance.

Mikky says: "I think we have only hit top form on a couple of occasions. We can still do better. It's not payback time this weekend because when we played them they did better than us. We had a nightmare. We did badly against them but I am sure it is going to be different this time. I think at the moment there is more confidence and everything is going better now. Sometimes you can't explain why things like that happen in football. That is why football is so great. But now we need to try to keep scoring goals whilst the people up front have so much confidence.

I think now that we can forget about the bottom positions so the target is looking forwards at the next game, which is Aston Villa at home. If we keep winning then we will have the chance at the end of the season to be near Europe. All the team played really well last week and we have been helping each other all the time. That is what we need to keep going now. The spirit is brilliant and the team is doing well. The fans are much happier now with the effort we are putting in and with the results. So we need to keep going and keep making the people happy. It was really enjoyable on Saturday.

When you see the crowd the way they were on Saturday it is really nice to see because they have shown that in the bad moments they have been behind the team and that is not easy for them. In Spain you don't see that much so I really appreciate it and understand what it means for the players so when we play like we did on Saturday you feel really good for the fans. For us, the most important thing is the high tempo and that everybody keeps fighting, and after that we can start playing the football. If we do it the other way it won't work because this team is all about the spirit and the effort." (17/03/06)

Modest Mikky

Modest Mikky Arteta believes wrongly that there are many better players ahead of him in the Spanish World Cup reckoning, though if asked he would love the chance to represent his country at this years tournament in Germany. Saying that the Spanish midfielder is happy with life on Merseyside, and he loves the club, the atmosphere and the fans. Mikky stay around till we win something, then you will see an atmosphere.

Mikky says: "I still think there are many better players than me. There are so many midfielders. They are all different. I would love to have the chance one day to play. All I can do is keep playing well and hope the manager notices me but it is not easy. If he thinks I am good enough to go, I would be really pleased. Do I want to go? Of course.

There are so many differences from my country to here. You need to adapt and when you know what you need to adapt to, it is better. Speaking the language really helps, too. I feel I belong here. I am at a club where everything is good. The atmosphere, the fans, I feel very good in the city and when you feel like that, you cannot help but coming into training smiling every day and know what is important in life." (14/03/06)

Just Give Me The Ball

Our Tater gave another sublime performance yesterday. He started on the left of midfield and due to substitutions ended up on the right. It didn't seem to matter to him. He ended up giving his impression of a Spanish matador to various Fulham players before he moved in for the kill.

Mikel says: "I always try to do my best and help the team as much as I can. I like creating things for us to win matches. What I always say is that it doesn't matter where I play, just keep me in contact with the ball. I try to create things all the time. If I get the ball on the left, the right or in the middle, it doesn't matter but I just want the ball. If we see a weakness in the opposite team, we try to exploit it. I am always there, doing my best for the team. The gaffer has asked me to play in a couple of different roles because of injuries or when he has wanted to play in a different way." (12/03/06)

Give Mikky a Go

Biffa Beattie has led the calls for Spain to take Everton midfield genius Mikky Arteta to Germany this Summer. With the World Cup only months away, and Mikky in the form of his life, it is mystifying to Biffa why Mikky never gets a look in with his National squad.

Biffa says: "I asked Mikel last week why he wasn't in the Spanish squad and he turned to me and said 'no, there are too many good players there'. So I asked him, 'What are you, then?' He is just a quiet, modest character. Mikel gets on with his work but he is a fabulous player. I believe that he should get a shout for a place (at the World Cup). He has such quality and he is still very young. He has had a tremendous career already but he has got many years ahead of him. If he keeps progressing and keeps improving as a player, then he will be fantastic for Everton." (07/03/06)

Top Player

Moyesy has been drooling over Mikky's performance against the Hammers on Saturday.

Moyesy says: "Arteta was excellent. He can play everywhere across the middle of the park. He is 23-years-old but I think he has looked a terrific player. He has an ability to go past players, he can pass it, he can play central midfield, wide right, wide left as he did against West Ham for me.

He was a thorn in their side all day. I think he is showing ability to win games for us. The thing that you have to remember with him is that he is only a young Spanish lad but he has come in and kept at it. I've been really impressed by him for that reason. Now and again I've had to ask him 'can you give me more' but maybe his time with Glasgow Rangers has toughened him up for the British style of play week in, week out." (06/03/06)

Fit And Ready

Mikky looking even more tanned than he was before his trip to Miami, has stated that the break will give the injured members of the squad that extra bit of time to get themselves fit ready for the run in to the end of the season.

Our Tater says: "The break does not matter. We have been playing so many games and people are getting a bit tired so it will be a good rest for everybody. We have a couple of injuries as well so now we can get everybody fit again because now we are doing so well and everybody is happy. We will have had two weeks without playing so we can get everybody fit again and keep going because now we are doing much better. Now even with the bad situation we are reacting really well and that means that everybody is ready to play and play well so that is good news for us." (19/02/06)

Five Steps To Paradise

Everton's Midfield Maestro, God I fuckin' love him, Mikky Arteta is saying that the next five games will shape Everton's season. Relegation battle or UEFA Cup contenders that is how close it is, and that battle starts against Wigan tonight. If there was a way, I would volunteer to have his children, but alas my wife would leave me. I have been warned by the Everton security to stop following him, but I can't, it hurts, you know like your first love in school, sorry all emotional, I'm off to Wigan know.

Mikky says: "Now we know the next five games are going to be so important in terms of saying where we will be at the end of the season. We should forget about the good results we have had. We just need to focus on the next game because the next five games will dictate whether we can finish in a European place.

After those five games, if you are still doing well you can think about the higher positions. But if you don't do so well then the distance is going to be too great to close in the games we have remaining. We are now at the moment where we need to show we can keep the form going. We have shown what we can do in the last few weeks and we are confident we can keep that going and we are capable of doing that.

Because the fixtures are coming so quickly and we have a small squad, it is good to see that on Tuesday we will have fresh players. That will help because we made such a big effort on Saturday. When you are playing so many games and so many big games it is your desire that keeps you going. When you are winning it gives you another 20 per cent and you keep running even if you are tired." (31/01/06)

Refreshing

This makes a refreshing change. A footballer who actually wants to play football over the Crimbo break.

Mikky says: "When you are in the situation we are in now it doesn't matter where the team you are playing is in the league, every game is crucial. Every game is really important and we need to take care of our own results and not worry about the results of the other teams. We know Christmas is a chance for us to change what we have done up until now.

In Spain now they have stopped until the sixth or seventh of January so they have 15 days off, That is a chance to spend time with family but for us here it is a hard period. But I think it is what we need we want to play games."

Family is important in Spain but they can't come over, because on Christmas Day we are going to the hotel ahead of Villa, and after that we have a hotel for Sunderland and the game with Liverpool (the shite). It will be very difficult but that is football. We are privileged people and so that is a small price to pay and it is not a problem.

The only thing I want for Christmas is 9 points from 9. That would make my Christmas the happiest and it would be beautiful."(26/12/05)

Same Again

Mikky is hoping we can put in a repeat performance of last years 3-1 victory against Villa. Everton put on their best display for many seasons at Villa last season and to get a similar result will do nicely.

Mikky says: "We need to try to do something there. We have got to get points, go there with our heads up and make everyone happier again.We have got to change what we have done in the last two games. We have watched videos of the Bolton game and, to be honest, in some parts of the game we did okay. It wasn't a 4-0 game.

"If we win on Monday, everything will be much better again and we can build from there. We need to start winning again and transmitting positive things. I'm sure the team will react well against Villa. We played some very good football the last time we went there. We looked lively and created many things. We must do it again." (22/12/05)

Analyse That

Arteta has asked his team mates to have a good luck at themselves as this is not the first time Everton have let in 4 goals this season.

Mikky says: "It may not have seemed a 4-0 game but at the end of the day that is the result. We are really disappointed and sad. We need to turn back and look at why we did badly. But we didn't score and we made so many mistakes to create the goals for them so that is something we need to improve. Three goals in five minutes is unbelievable and when you are playing at home you feel even more disappointed.

It isn't the first time this season we have conceded so many goals and that makes you think. It was an awful afternoon for us. We were looking at these two home games and thinking we could get the results to make the table look much better. But we need to analyse what happened on Saturday because we played nearly the whole game in their half but we lost again." (19/12/05)

More Goals

Mikky says: "We are having a good run, we have got two games at home now but they are going to be more difficult than the Manchester United game because people are going to be expecting us to win and it is not going to be easy at all so we have got the chance now to improve a little bit and we want to take it. We are playing better but we still have things to improve on because we started the season really badly, and we want to have a chance after Christmas to say: ‘we have 18 games, and we want to win these games, and move up the table'.

The games are very important at the moment, because we are playing so many games so if we can get the points now it is good for the Christmas season. I think we have played nine away games and six home games so now it will become more balanced and we are strong at home and now we have the chance to improve and playing at home should be like last year now - getting the points and making life difficult for the teams who come to Goodison. I don’t score a lot of goals but sometimes there are some nice ones, I would like to improve on this area and as I am playing more forward now I want to get in the box and score more goals if possible." (14/12/05)

Don't Book Me!

Our Tatar is a bit pissed off that he missed the manure game and thinks he's been harshly treated by refs.

Mikky says: "Normally I don’t get booked very much, I don’t want to blame the referees but I have taken some bad kicks and they have not been booked and then I do something and they book me so. Opposition players have to see that they have to respect you and in the type of game we play you have to be really aggressive, and that is what the gaffer is asking everyone to do so that is something I have to do. I was really looking forward to the Man Utd game, it would have been nice to play at old Trafford, but it was a good result even though I missed it and I am much happier now that has happened. I have had problems with my knee for a while and I needed to rest for a week, so it was a good time for me to recover a little bit." (13/05/05)

See You In a Week

With Mikky's suspension ruling him out of this weekends clash against manure, his dodgy knee problem ironically could not have come at a better time. The Spanish midfielder along with Top Doc Basil Rathbone is targeting next Wednesday's home match against The Hammers for his return.

Basil says: "Mikel has a relatively minor knee problem, just a bit of discomfort towards the end of the game. He came off as a precaution and it looks relatively minor. He’s suspended for the next one so fingers crossed he is available for the West Ham game." (08/12/05)

Want To Play There

Mikky Our Tater's booking against Blackburn has ruled him out of a visit to Old Trafford this weekend, and a game he really wanted to play in. Like the Bernabau, Nou Camp, San Siro, Grimsby's Blundell Park, and Turf Moor, Old Trafford is the ground every pro seems to want to play at. Remember one thing Mikky, you play at Paradise once a fortnight, nothing else compares. Anyway Old Trafford is full of Irish and Southerners.

Mikky says: "I have only played once at Old Trafford and I really wanted to play again but that happens in football and maybe it is more important that I played in this game (Blackburn). I will miss the next game, but I will try and recover my knee as best I can and look at the next game. We have so many games in December so I need to be ready for that.

I hadn’t trained all week and the knee was still sore but I wanted to play. Tim was not playing and I wanted to take the gamble. But after 70 minutes it started hurting me again and I couldn’t continue, so it was better to bring on another player.

When you win everything is easier, everything is better. We are looking better, it was a really difficult one to win I think they have had a very good run and home and that was a really important game for us. They had the man sent off and then when I scored the second goal everything was looking much better. I think they played some good football at times and we were struggling to create things but I think we looked more like last year. It was an important goal because at 1-0 nothing was won and it was important to say that now we are in a position to win the game."

I am not a player who wants to score ten goals a year but four or five I can do it. Free kicks as well, I was close with the first one. I think scoring is something everyone has to take responsibility for, because we have found it difficult to score recently. We hope that now we can take confidence from the game and go to Manchester and get a result. We are still in a complicated situation. If we lose two or three games we are struggling, so we need to be really mentally strong every week." (05/12/05)

Suspended

Mikky will not be playing against Man Utd next Sunday. He picked up his fifth booking of the season which gives him a one match suspension. He will use the time off to rest his knee. He will be missed. I love him.

Moyesy says: "Mikel has been struggling with his knee for a while and although its not really serious it has been affecting him late in games, he’s suspended now anyway next week." (02/12/05)

Reign For Spain

Moyesy believes that one day Mikky Arteta will reign for Spain, but he thinks that next years World Cup may come a bit early in his career for him. Never the less he has urged Spanish Coach Luis Aragones to take a look at our versatile midfielder who is playing out of his skin at Goodison.

Moyesy says: "I think he is someone Spain could consider but maybe this World Cup might come a little bit too quick for him. Maybe after this World Cup will be his time, possibly the next European Championships. But if the squad isn't at full strength or the door isn't shut, then I think Mikel Arteta should have a look in.

Since he has come here, his form has improved. I'm sure the Spanish manager is keeping his eye on a few boys across the road, so it wouldn't do him any harm to pop in here to take a look. Mikel is looking a good player at the moment, his form for us has been excellent. He's now playing regularly for Everton in the Premier League. He came on loan last season and did well but this year it has been a different challenge for him. His ability on the ball, everyone is seeing now. There is a terrific player there. We can play him in two or three different roles, which helps but he is definitely someone we can trust with the ball and we always think he can create something for us." (02/12/05)

Time Well Spent

Mikky Arteta is putting some extra work in on his crossing, at the request of Manager Davey Moyes. Mikky has been putting extra work in on the training ground, so the delivery of his pass to Dunc and Biffa is spot on. If the last few weeks are anything go by, it has been time well spent.

The Spanish midfielder is also convinced that Everton have recaptured some of the form that served us so well last season, and hopes the Blues continue the good work at West Brom today.

Mikky says: "In the last few weeks I have been practicing (crossing) because I know that I will be playing on the right. The gaffer wanted to train me to put good crosses into the box and try to score with two big lads, like the forwards we have got, so its something I'm trying to improve all the time. We have had so many chances I think we have been a little bit unlucky with how the balls have fallen for us but we need to score more goals and we should have scored more goals. Sometimes one goal is not enough and you need to score a second one to kill the game.

We haven't really scored many goals but we are creating the chances and hopefully we can make this connection better and try to get goals from it. Some of us have been training hard all week and that has helped us.

If you see where we are now and where we were, you can’t say we have recaptured the form of last year - it is too early to say that. But things are looking better now, and the confidence is coming back. We have got almost everybody fit again and that is important as well." (19/11/05)

I Have a Dream

Spain have booked their place for next years World Cup in Germany, and no one is more excited than Mikky Arteta. Everton's 23yr old midfielder is targeting a place in the Spanish Squad for Germany 2006. If his form for the Blues continues, me thinks he can get his own back on the Germans and book his sun bed for a Summer in Bavaria.

Our Tater says: "Hopefully I will get that chance. I want to see Spain in the World Cup and it was nice to see them winning so well the other night because people were worried after the qualification group because we did so badly. But now we look like we are doing better. I have played in the Under-21s for my country but I have never played for the main side. That would be a dream for me.

One of my dreams is to play for Spain. That has been my dream since I was young. If you are doing really well for your club, then getting the call from your country would be one of the best things in the world for me.I want to think I am still young. I want to improve and I want to learn from Everton in the changing room, from the gaffer and from the players. There are always things to learn and ways to improve. In time I hope to add much more to my game.

Everything is better and moving on. The atmosphere is better and everybody is happy but there is still so much work to do and a long way to go for us to be happy and proud about how we are doing. We need to keep going getting good results. When you are winning you feel more confident and you are enjoying what you are doing. When you are losing it is difficult but now we are enjoying the games knowing what we can do." (17/11/05)

Mr. Versatile

Mikky Arteta believes one of the Blues strengths at the moment is the versatility of the midfield. Mikky and Andy Pandy were forever changing flanks in Sundays game against Boro, and it helped to unsettle the Boro defence. Also with Simon Davies able to play out wide, it gives Moyesy greater options when selecting his side's tactics.

Mikky says: "We changed positions five or six times (against Middlesbrough) because the gaffer wanted to change the way that we were playing. I think it is good for a team, and for our development, for myself because I never really play on the right. I have a new position and that makes you try and put your standard higher, and say 'Okay here I need to do my best,' and that is better for the team.

Now it looks like we are more able to score the goals and then it’s easier to win the games, but the spirit is still there, and it has been there all the time. The difference is maybe that when we create the chances now we will score at least one so that is very important for us. I think the standard now is higher (in our play). We have recovered some players from injuries, everybody has more confidence, everybody is doing better, and the team is more confident. For us it is really important if we can get results at home, and then build from there. The gaffer was asking that we try and get all the points we can at home, away is a different game, but at home we need to be really strong and build on that and try not to lose many points." (09/11/05)

Licence To Roam

Mikky Arteta is given a licence to roam by Blues Boss Davey Moyes. The 23yr old Spaniard has been one of Moyesy shining lights in this campaign, and Moyesy has been playing him out on the right of late. The Blues boss however believes Arteta may revel further by drifting in and out of positions to wreak havoc in the opposition ranks.

Moyesy says: "I may chop and change. I may play Mikael on the left as well. Sometimes I am happy to play him as a midfielder that drifts out wide because of the quality of his delivery. The biggest thing with Mikael is that he has only 23 and we know that there is great potential there.

He is one of the positive things we have been able to take from this run. We know he is creative on the ball and he has one or two strings to his bow. We will keep using him wherever we feel it is best." (06/11/05)

Hurry Up Back Mikky

Mikky was missing again yesterday. He wants to get back as soon as poss and he is finding it frustrating to watch from the sidelines.

Mikky says:" I am fine but I need to wait before I can play again because I am not allowed despite feeling ok. The doctors say because it is not an ankle, knee but more serious and for that reason you cannot take the gamble because it could affect you the rest of your life.

Now I will be watching on television frustrated because I want to be on the pitch. (16/10/05)

Underhand Tactics

Everton captain against Dinamo, Phil Neville wasn't surprised by the underhand tactics of the Rumanians on Thursday night. Claims of spitting, pulling shirts, diving, feigning injury etc.

Phil Neville says: “We knew they would go down at every opportunity and we also knew they would put their foot in. The most important thing is that we won the game and kept our dignity. They didn’t. What happened didn’t surprise us. Teams from that part of the world will do anything to win. There were concerns that Mikel had swallowed his tongue, but he was sitting up in the dressing-room later with his family and he was OK.” (01/10/05)

Lucky Escape

Mikky Arteta was released from hospital at dinner time after getting the all clear from the medical staff. Mikky who was attacked, by a person impersonating a footballer, in the Bucharest victory, is not expected to be in Moyesy's plans for the weekend visit to Man City.

Let's hope UEFA study the match video carefully, and ban the turd, who put Mikky in hospital. If it was Big Dunc I am sure they would throw the book at him. It was an assault on a fellow professional, and he needs a lengthy ban for his sin's. Tosser.

Basil says: "I spoke to Mikel this morning and he seems okay. The hospital were planning to give him a CT scan and we expect him to be released at lunch-time. When it happened he was dis-orientated but never lost consciousness. These incidents tend to look worse than they are." (30/09/05)

Absolutely Ridiculous

Mikky Our Tater is mystified like everyone else, why the Blues are not in the Champions League hat today. The Blues had the chance of Europe's big competition whipped away from them, after a glaring error by referee Pierluigi Collina who disallowed Big Dunc's header late on. The referee who is in his last season, will no doubt tell us why he failed to give the goal in his forthcoming autobiography. Cynical, fuckin' right I am.

Mikky says: "Unbelievable. I am really disappointed with the referee. It was a ridiculous decision. We scored a goal, a perfectly good goal, we have watched the replay on the video and it is absolutely ridiculous. We are very disappointed. We have made a great effort. It was difficult and we can’t really ask for anything more than the lads gave. There was no contact at all. It was one of their defenders holding Benty with both arms and he is just trying to keep him off.

The spirit and camaraderie shown from all the lads involved was magnificent. We missed a couple of chances and that has been the difference against a great team but we have played well in difficult circumstances tonight. We knew that when they scored it was nothing to be too concerned with. It was a deflection and we were unlucky. We kept going and that is what we have at Everton - belief in each other that we can do the job. I think that is going to stand us in good stead.

It is not what we wanted (UEFA Cup), the Champions League is obviously much better competition to be involved in. But the Uefa Cup is going to be much better this year as there are some great team involved. We need to learn. It is the first time for a long time that we have been involved in games and competitions like this but I also think we should be very proud of what we have done." (25/08/05)

Goals Make Prizes

Mikky Arteta believes Everton need to start finding the net, to get the results that their performances deserve. With the Blues receiving the plaudits for their efforts against Villarreal and Man ure of late, it will all count for nothing, if the players do not start finding the onion bag.

Mikky says: "We are looking sharp and physically we are feeling good. We are creating chances but the problem is that we are not scoring. That is the only thing that is wrong. We certainly didn't deserve to go into half-time against Manchester United losing by one goal but after the break we lost a poor goal very early and we can't keep conceding these type of goals. We have got to make sure that we keep concentrating for 90 minutes because we are not the type of squad that will score three or four goals in a game. Maybe one goal at the right time can make all the difference. We need to keep our concentration a little bit more and be a bit more clinical. Then we will be able to push on from here. It's like the gaffer has said. We created more chances against Manchester United on Saturday than we did against them last year yet we still ended up winning that game 1-0." (16/08/05)

Not A Serious Injury

Our Tater went over on his ankle against Udinese and everyone thought the worst, but apparently he should be fit for next week.

Alan Irvine said: "The situation with Mikel is not bad. He rocked his ankle and it was the same ankle he had a bit of a problem with last season but he is not bad at all and it was a precaution more than anything."
Physio Baz says: “Mikel took a knock to his ankle but as the game was only a pre-season friendly we didn't want to take any chances and we will take a look first thing in the morning.”

Don't Want That One

Everton's will rely on our Spanish import Mikky Arteta to give us the low down on our Champions League opponents Villarreal. Mikky who played in La Liga before joining the Blues, is being honest in his assessment, that it isn't going to be easy.

Mikky says: " It maybe could have been tougher but this is a tough one as well. It is going to be very difficult. We haven't been very lucky to be honest. Last year they had a great season and they have so many great players but there is a chance now of making it through.

We have to be prepared to play the best we can and then it is a case of seeing what happens. We need to make sure we play our game to the best of our ability. They like to play football and they played the nicest type of football in Spain last year along with Barcelona. They like to pass the ball and have good players in every position and international players.

Reina (shite's new keeper) was playing there and now he is in Liverpool and I am going to speak to him about the game to see if he can offer any advice. I will try to use my knowledge from playing in Spain to help the team, so we can do the best we can and identify their weaknesses. But we just need to have confidence in ourselves and we cannot do anything else or worry about the draw." (29/07/05)

Pen To Paper

At last, Mikky Arteta has put pen to paper and signed a five year contract for the Blues. The 22yr old midfielder, has kept us waiting to sign the deal, but he as assured the Blues faithful, that there was never any doubt about him playing at Goodison next season. Well played Mikky.

Mikky says: "I am so delighted. I have been waiting for nearly two months. There have been so many speculations about where I was going but my mind was always with Everton. That is why I have been waiting and now I am so, so happy because this is what I wanted. I have signed for five years here and I want to help this team to grow, work very hard and do something very, very good next season.

I was very surprised by the club, the people and the fans when I came here. What we did last season was so very important for everybody. I was so happy and felt so close to the club. I was very surprised that the fans were trying to make me feel an Everton player and an important player very quickly. I much appreciated that from the first minute. That was important for me and something I have been thinking about over the summer because that means a lot to a player. It was a nice feeling and that was why I was sure we were going to find a solution (over the summer). Now I am very happy.

I am going to do everything I can. I hope the people enjoy my game and I am going to be very loyal and honest with the club and the fans and I hope everything works out well. We have got a very long season and a very important one. I want to start working hard for the team. We are going to Thailand on Sunday and I just want to settle in very quickly. Manchester United (Man ure) on the first day of the season is an extra motivation for us. The atmosphere is going to be unbelievable and it is a big extra for us." (15/07/05)

Mikky Last Season

Full First Team Squad