A frantic transfer deadline day was finished off in awesome style by Arsenal by completing the signing of 29-year-old Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard has 7 years of Premier League experience under his belt, and is one of the most respected players in the English game.
The Toffees had initially rejected a £10 million bid from the Gunners for the Spanish playmaker, but Arteta himself intervened, telling David Moyes he was keen for a fresh start at Arsenal, but more than anything, he wanted to get the opportunity to play Champions League football.
Moyes then moved quickly to accept Arsenal’s offer, as he did not want to keep an unsettled player.
Arteta insists he done his best at Everton, and that it was simply the right time for him to leave.
The creative midfielder told EvertonTV:
‘It is a big opportunity for me and my family and I think it is the right time for me to take it.’
‘It is a big challenge, a different challenge, fresh for me and I want to see myself on the biggest stage, the Champions League.
‘I am 29 years old so I haven’t got much time left to take a chance like this one. I think I have done my best for Everton. I always try hard, I have been as professional as I could and I was grateful for the support and the love that the club and the fans showed me.’
Arteta then admitted that it was extremely difficult for him to leave Goodison Park, and said that he will have nothing but fond memories of Merseyside:
‘It is very difficult to say goodbye.’
‘I still can’t believe it but at the same time I think it is the right moment for everyone. That is the way football is, there is always a start and an end and today is the end of probably the best time of my career. I am never going to forget it. It has been crazy. I can’t believe what happened, and the way it happened but as I said, that is part of football and I am going to be playing for another club soon.’
‘Obviously I am never going to forget what I have done here and what the people and this club have done for me.’
I believe Arsenal fans deeply respect Arteta for the manner in which he left Everton – thanking the fans and the club, and not saying a bad word about them in the process.
He was also obviously very keen to join Arsenal and was even willing to take a pay cut to join the north London club, which shows his heart and character.
Arteta needed to move on from Everton if he was going to challenge for trophies, especially in the last few years of his career, and Arsenal FC is a club that challenges for silverware.
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Artetea is a big fish 4 arsea i luv him goner 4 life
I think is lovely, Arteta is a good player, respectful, an obidient. I think Arsene did a good job there, but he could have sign another midffider with him, so that every thing can balance. Gunners for life.
Basically arteta is really good,nobody shuld use their mouth to criticise him his our player now,thanks to Wenger to bring such a player to arsenal.