While his value was never in doubt to those around Goodison Park, the rest of the English Premier League-watching world got an idea of Mikel Arteta's importance to Everton when the Spanish midfielder missed the beginning of last season, sending the Toffees into a hole out of which they spent the whole season digging.
Everton Ties Up Mikel Arteta With New Five-Year Deal
This season Everton not only has Arteta healthy but have taken the further step of securing a long-term contract, signing their playmaker to a new five-year deal, it was announced today. The deal will keep Arteta at Goodison Park through until 2015, when he is 33-years-old.
After a summer of rumors linking the Spaniard with moves up the Premier League table or back to his homeland, Arteta was ready to affirm his place in David Moyes’ team:
Arteta told evertonfc.com: “What this summer has made me realise is how important I am to the Club and how important the Club is to me. The Chairman and the manager wanted me to stay 120 per cent and that makes me feel proud. We are all seeing the Club and the future in the same way and that is special - something that you don’t always find.
“I believe in this squad. We have got a very strong squad now and it is getting difficult to pick an 11 because of the players we have. Something is happening here and I want to be a part of it.”
For chairman Bill Kenwright, the deal secures an important piece of the club’s identity:
He said: "Mikel Arteta is one of the finest players ever to wear an Everton shirt and over the past few weeks his pride in wearing that shirt has helped our conversations hugely. Alongside several others in the squad we are both passionate Evertonians.
"After already tying up the likes of Tim Cahill, Jack Rodwell, Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman on long-term deals we have now agreed terms with one of the finest and most influential players in our recent history."
Manager David Moyes credited Kenwright with securing the club’s best player:
”Its great news that Mikel Arteta has pledged his future to Everton. He is a very important player for us and we are delighted to secure him.“The Chairman deserves a lot of credit for making this deal happen. He is continually trying to move the Club forward.”
Arteta moved to Everton in the winter of 2005, securing permanent deal during the summer. Since, the midfielder has made 143 league appearances for the club, scoring 24 goals.
For discussion of the new deal, you can visit SB Nation’s Everton FC blog: Royal Blue Mersey.
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