Best Form Soon

Only a few players have reached their best form this season, but the one most of the fans are shaking their heads about is Mikel. With his injury problems over we hoped to see him skipping past players down the flanks and forcing free kicks on the edge of the box, but this hasn't happened. All we seem to talk about is his poor corners. Moyesy though is certain his best form is around the corner. Kipper hopes it's not the same corner his bird went around as she never came back.

Moyesy says: "I think Mikel would admit he is searching for his best form. That happens with players but Mikel is a very talented player. He has been very good for us over the years and I am sure that form will come back. He is working really hard and preparing himself and you can't forget he had an injury in the summer as well." (29/11/08)

Honoured To Be Captain

In the absence of club captain Phil Neville, Moyesy gave the "harm band" to Mikel against Newcastle. The best little Spaniard we know had a poor game but was honoured to be skipper.

Mikel says: "It’s been an honour, it’s been a very nice thing from the manager and the players to have the confidence in me to give me the arm band." (07/10/08) Full interview on evertontv

Hard Task In Belgium

After last night's draw with Standard Liege, Mikel thinks we need to keep a clean sheet in Belgium to go through to the next round.

Mikel says: “We have conceded two goals at home so we know we have to go there and beat them which is going to be very hard. In the last few years we kept clean sheets in almost every second game so that’s something we need to go back to because we know that’s a big thing for getting results.” (19/09/08)

New Boys Make Us Stronger

Mikel reckons that with the likes of Fellaini, Castillo and Cahill starting against Stoke, Everton looked a better team with character.

Mikel says: “It was a big lift for us. We know that we’ve got better players on the pitch, we look stronger and better as a team with more composure and balance. Hopefully we can continue from here and keep winning games. Stoke was probably a game that we’d have lost last month but we came out and showed character.

When you’ve been winning 2-0 and they get back to 2-2 it’s hard mentally to react but we were able to score the third and it means a lot for the team. It was a real test of character. It was so hard to play at Stoke, they put you under so much pressure with throw-ins. We had to try and deal with it but we conceded two goals from throw-ins but we were able to score three ourselves which was massive for us. It was a tough game for the two new players. As we say: ‘Welcome to England!’

It’s a very physical league and they’re going to find it hard in some games but they did a good job and they deserve credit because it wasn’t an easy match to start with. We’ve got two or three different things to do from set-pieces to score as we showed with the goal for Victor.” (17/09/08)

Pain Free & Back In Form

One of the talking points over the Summer with Evertonians has been the form and fitness of the Spanish player. Questions have been asked. Did he still have the desire? Was he on his way back to Spain? Will he be fit for the start of the season? and many more. Looking at him during the pre-season games, fans have seen him gradually getting fitter and still having the determination to pull on the blue shirt and perform at his highest potential. Mikel is now pain free and ready to recapture the form that made him the fans favourite.

Mikel says: "I've had pain in my knee before and also had problems with my ankle but this was like nothing I have ever experienced before. I kept thinking I was better then suddenly the pain would strike again.When it was so bad, I could see the ball in front of me but I just couldn't run towards it. It felt like someone was sticking a knife in me. It was agony every time I wanted to kick the ball.

"I would be fine one day in training, the next it was so bad I couldn't even walk up the stairs. It wasn't a very common injury so that is why it was so difficult to treat. It was awful, a really horrible time. The last proper game I played was nearly four months ago. I had an absolute nightmare last season and I have to be careful that I don't do too much too soon.

"The good thing is that I haven't been feeling any pain. I'm still a little bit limited because the tissue hasn't properly healed yet. I'm two weeks ahead of schedule, so we have just got to be careful. I wasn't training during the week. I was going to Spain, then coming back here and it was a hard injury to really analyse. We tried to compare it with other players who had had the injury around Europe but we couldn't compare it with anything.

"Now things are starting to get much better and that's why I have to thank the medical team, the manager and the players. They did everything they could to help me, even when they knew I couldn't play at 100 per cent. We need to get prepared really well for the first game at home against Blackburn and I think we are going to do that. We have got so many things to analyse at the minute and we also have so many players injured. There is still much to happen. This year is massive for me and I am very motivated. I have worked hard through the summer and once I get to 100 per cent, I hope to play to my best. (13/08/08)

Lets Just Get On With It

The CEO has gone, the Kirkby move is on hold, but more importantly for all Blues is no new signings as yet this Summer. Mikky Arteta wants to put all the talk of potential transfer targets off for now, and just concentrate on this week and our Premiership opener against Blackburn. The Spanish Magician still thinks new faces will be at Goodison before to long, but for now all that matters is three points come quarter to five on Saturday afternoon.

Mikky says: "I think we need to stop talking about the new signings. The manager, the chairman, whatever it is they have to do they are going to do it for the best of the club. They know what they're doing. The manager is very keen to bring in top players and he's been waiting. He doesn't want to bring us two names, he wants to bring three of four class players.

We've got three weeks now left (of the transfer window), so hopefully we will do it." (11/08/08)

Told You I Was Going Nowhere

It seems whilst we were getting tetchy over whether Mikky would jump back on a plane and play in Spain this season, Mikky himself was just getting pissed off with the constant rumours over his future. Mikky has pledged his future to the Blues, as he has never been happier. Great now that one has been put to bed, lets get on with our quest for World Domination.

Mikky says: "I always say - and I don't know how many times I have to say - that I'm so happy here and I have no intention to leave. As I always say, one day I would like to get back to Spain before I end my career - maybe one or two years over there. But you never know, at the moment I'm not thinking about leaving because I'm so happy here - and I've been very happy since I joined the Club. I want to stay here and I'm so happy and proud I am part of this Club." (31/07/08)

Good News

Good news on Mikky's injury. It was a boot on the shin. I use to get one every week in the Bootle JOC

Baz Rathbone says: “Mikel seems ok. He got a knock on the shin which caught the nerve. His foot went numb but it seems alright now. It’s just a knock. It was just unfortunate and we didn’t want to take chances.(27/07/08)

Limps Off

Mikky limped off after half an hour of the Blues draw against Notts Forest at the City Ground tonight. A wonder strike from youngster Jose Baxter put the Blues ahead but Nuno Valente put through his own net to bring the scores level. Mikky's injury though was the story of the evening, when he limped off holding his calf on the half hour mark. Lets hope it just precautionary, with Moyesy taking no chances with Blackburn and the big kick off only three weeks away. (25/07/08)

So Happy

What a great sight it was for all Evertonian's to see Mikky back in the blue shirt. He played the last 20 in the friendly against Cambridge. He needs to take it easy though.

Mikky says: “I expected to play my first game in America, so I am two weeks ahead of schedule so I need to take it easy as well. I can’t just go over there and do crazy things because I’m still just about returning from the injury but I’m so happy to be back.

“I trying to get my fitness levels up and trying to get used to playing with people around me because it’s different to when you are training on your own – so my aim is to get on the pitch and to get back to normal.”(20/07/08)

Fit Again

The best little Spaniard we know gave Everton a boost this week with the news that he is in full training with the first team squad and may play on Saturday against Cambridge.

Moyesy says: “Mikel is training with us again and that is a boost. We are pleased with the progress that he has made and there is an outside chance that he will be involved when we play Cambridge. (18/07/08)

Fitness Everton & Spain

Mikel is looking forward to the start of the season and staying fit so he can impress his national coaches and get a place in the Spanish squad.

Mikel says: "It’s still my ambition to play for Spain. I want to see if I can get in this season and hopefully get to the level I want. The scouts and coaches do watch Everton. Everton haven’t got as many games on Spanish TV as the top four but now they’re going to change that around. It’s going to be a hard season because of expectations but we’ve got a very good team and I think we’re going to get two or three more players as well. We’re going to make it stronger. We know how important the league is going to be and we’ve got Europe as well which is great. We’ll see what happens." (16/07/08)

Ready To Play Games

While the Everton squad are in Switzerland preparing for a game against FC Sion, Mikel is at Finch Farm with the other injured players on course to play in some of the pre-season warm up games. He explains the extent of the pain he was and the reason his form dipped so badly last season, but is confident his troubles are behind him and we'll see the real Mikel this season.

Mikky says: “Gradually the groin got worse and the pain was bigger. I did everything I could not to miss as many games as other players with the same injury have in the past. But, in the end, we thought the best way to resolve the problem was surgery.

“I’ve been doing rehab all summer so fingers crossed I’m going to feel much better. We’ve got a long pre-season and I plan to play at some point. When you play with pain you can’t train in the week and obviously that affects your fitness levels and your confidence. It was tough - all the hours I had to spend on treatment and on different exercises instead of training outside.

“It does affect you because you are out of the game. You lose that sharpness and that confidence, and every time you want to kick the ball and do something special you are very limited. And it’s not an excuse. I am the just the first one to criticise myself. I had to get used to expecting the pain all the time. The only thing I’m asking now is not to have the pain because I know if that is the case I have a lot to offer. Hopefully this season is going to be a big one." (08/07/08)

Mikky's On Schedule

Mikky Arteta is on schedule for pre season training with the Blues in late June after his successful stomach op out in his native Spain. Everton Physio Basil Rathbone has jetted out to Barcelona to keep a beady eye on our magical midfielder, and Basil is more than happy with Mikky's progress.

Basil says: "Mikel had surgery in Barcelona, a minor procedure on his stomach, he's had the problem for four or five months. I've been over to see him and he's doing okay. I'm going to see him next week and it's so far so good with him. It was a problem that isn't so unusual, but to be fair to Mikel, he played and played and played with it. He probably did himself no favours in his desire to give all for the team."

On one level, medically speaking, we don't want players to worsen their injuries. I think we are very careful like that. But it's a professional sport and Everton are striving to go places and it's good that the players understand that and are prepared to put their bodies on the line. I do stress that we won't allow them to endanger themselves, or play with injuries that are dangerous to them. I think if you want to be successful, and there's a little bit of discomfort going around, I think generally speaking, a squad that can pull together and get through it are going to be more successful and we have those kind of boys here." (26/05/08)