Мнениеот Awesome » 01 сеп 2011 11:28
[offtopic]everton supporter wrote:An insight into Mikel Arteta from an Everton FC supporter.
It should be said, I never usually post on Everton FC forums, never mind other teams. However, I was getting really annoyed watching tonights coverage on SSN and watching so may pundits talk so much drivel regarding Mikel Arteta, I felt compelled to offer an alternative view. I have been a season ticket holder for Everton FC for the past seven years, so I have watched Arteta's first and last match for Everton FC and everything in between!
The problem from what I have read and heard is that pundits and indeed some Arsenal FC supporters have a very outdated perception of Mikel Arteta. Indeed Arteta has been a fantastic player for Everton FC. He was the heartbeat of the Everton FC side, when he played well, so did Everton. His attributes are well docuemented, and are very typical of a player schooled at the Barcelona La Masia set up. At his best Arteta was a fantatically creative and skillfull player with great vision, who could also dribble past players with ease. Arteta was also a player (perhaps surprising to some) that could hold his own physically in the EPL. Without doubt at his best Arteta could have graced nearly every starting eleven in the EPL. Unfortunately, this is not the Arteta Arsenal FC have signed. Sinced his medial ligament injury against Newcastle in February 2009 Arteta has not displayed anywhere near his best form for Everton. Since his return Arteta has operated mainly from a central midfield position (having largely been a wide midfielder prior to his injury). Areteta's peformances are now so pedestrian compared to his early Everton career. He rarely creates in the final third or provide crosses/assists, evidenced by his 4 EPL assists last season. Fundamentally, Arteta just doesn't impact games in any meaningful way anymore. In fact, a large portion of Everton FC supporters have been very critical of him over the past 12 months and the general response to the move (from fellow fans I have spoke to) is in fact not disapointment at losing Arteta, but more so at not re-investing the money.
I guess what I am trying to say is that (perhaps understandably given Everton FC's lack of media attention) people views of Arteta are 2 years out of date. I for one hope Arteta does re-capture his best form, and if he does he will be a fantatsic acquisition for Arsenal. Maybe this is the move he needs, to re-ignite his career. However, having watched his career progress at Everton FC over the past 6 years, I can't help but feel over the course of the next couple of years many Gunners will be dissapointed in what they see.
P.S The notion that Arteta is a set piece specialist should also be dispelled. Yes, he still takes them for Everton (along with Baines) But he rarely beats the front man from corners, or the beats the wall from free-kicks.[/offtopic]
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