Mikel Arteta

For the maker of motion pictures, see Miguel Arteta.
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Arteta and the second or maternal family name is Amatriain.
Mikel Arteta

Arteta playing for Arsenal in 2011
Personal information
Full name Mikel Arteta Amatriain[1]
Date of birth (1982-03-26) 26 March 1982
Place of birth San Sebastián, Spain
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 8
Youth career
1994–1997 Antiguoko
1997–1999 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1999 Barcelona C 5 (1)
1999–2002 Barcelona B 42 (3)
2001–2002 → Paris Saint-Germain (loan) 31 (2)
2002–2004 Rangers 50 (12)
2004–2005 Real Sociedad 15 (1)
2005 → Everton (loan) 12 (1)
2005–2011 Everton 174 (28)
2011– Arsenal 109 (14)
National team
1998–1999 Spain U16 10 (4)
1999 Spain U17 7 (0)
1999–2001 Spain U18 13 (1)
2002–2003 Spain U21 12 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:00, 13 January 2016 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

Mikel Arteta Amatriain (born 26 March 1982) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Arsenal.

Arteta started out as a trainee with FC Barcelona but could not break his way into the first team and was eventually loaned to Paris Saint-Germain in the French league. He was then signed by Scottish Premier League club Rangers with whom he would win the domestic treble of the league, Scottish Cup and League Cup in the season of 2002–03. After success in Scotland, Arteta moved back to Spain and to his Basque roots to play for Real Sociedad but failed to establish himself within the first team and was loaned to Everton for the remainder of the 2004–05 season, prior to signing permanently in July 2005. He then made a permanent transfer to Arsenal in 2011, and was appointed captain of the club in August 2014.

Arteta has represented Spain at under-21 level, but he has not played for the senior national team.[3]

Club career

Early career

Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Arteta began his football career at Antiguoko and befriended fellow midfielder Xabi Alonso as they would play together every weekend. The two would often play along the beaches and gutters of San Sebastián and dreamed of playing together at Real Sociedad. Arteta left for the FC Barcelona B squad at 15 years of age while Alonso signed for Real Sociedad later.[4] Despite his potential Arteta failed to break into the first team, and went out on loan to French club Paris Saint-Germain in December 2000. In Paris, during a season and a half, Arteta was used by manager Luis Fernandez primarily as a playmaker. PSG wanted to keep Arteta at the end of the loan period, and did have a buy first option. However Arteta transferred to Rangers in March 2002, after the Scottish club made a more financially impressive offer to Barcelona.[5]

Rangers

Arteta signed for Scottish club Rangers in March 2002 in a £6 million transfer deal.[6] He enjoyed a successful first season at Rangers and quickly established himself as a first team regular and a fans' favourite. A highlight was scoring in his Old Firm debut.[7] Rangers completed the domestic treble of the Scottish Premier League title as well as the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. However Arteta was injured shortly before the 2003 Scottish Cup Final and missed the match.[8]

Arteta started his second and final season with Rangers in excellent form; scoring 6 goals in Rangers' first 6 games of the season.[9] However, Rangers ended the season empty handed as Celtic completed the domestic sweep of trophies. He returned to Spain after two seasons in Glasgow. Arteta later credited his spell at Rangers as helping him develop as a player, stating "Scottish football was tough, really tough. It was really physical, people got at you and I had to improve on that a lot. I think I did that to get to the level that the Premier League required of me."[10]

Real Sociedad

He joined Real Sociedad for €5.2 million in 2004 with the idea of Arteta and Xabi Alonso playing together. However, Alonso left for Liverpool and Arteta failed to establish himself in the team.[4]

Everton

Arteta playing for Everton.

Everton Manager David Moyes signed Arteta in the 2005 January transfer window on loan with a view to a permanent transfer. Seen as a replacement for Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen, Arteta played a vital part in helping Everton achieve the possibility of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League; however, they were knocked out in the last qualifying round.[4] He scored his first Everton goal in the 4–0 victory over Crystal Palace. Arteta signed a permanent five-year deal in July 2005 for a fee of £2 million.

The 2005–06 season saw Arteta pick up both the Everton Fans' Player of the Season and the Players' Player of the Season awards.[11] Arteta's good form extended into 2006–07. As well as retaining his starting place, he frequently turned in man-of-the-match displays, and finished the season with nine goals from the 35 league games he played. Arteta was awarded the Player of the Season Award for the second consecutive year.[11] He was also voted the Premiership's 'Midfielder of the Year' by the readers of Sky Sports, beating PFA Players' Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.[12]

Arteta with Leon Osman in 2008.

Arteta's creativity was an essential part of Everton's attacking play the following season, and he had scored six goals by the end of January.[13] That improved further a season later, with Arteta scoring nine times in the 2006–07 season and once again ending the season as the Player of the Year. He helped Everton secure a place in the UEFA Cup and was ranked by the ACTIM Index as the sixth best player in the Premiership, but it did not earn him a call-up into the full Spain squad.[13] During the summer of 2007, he signed a new five-year contract.[13]

Arteta added another accolade to his growing collection during the 2007–08 season, when he picked up North West Footballer of the Year award. He then became the first Everton player in five years to receive the Liverpool Echo's Sports Personality of the Year award in January 2008.

Arteta suffered a stomach injury in the second half of the season, and shortly before the final game of the campaign, he underwent surgery to rectify the problem.[13] He scored his first goal of the 2008–09 season in the Premier League opener versus Blackburn Rovers with a free kick. He was named captain for a 2–2 draw with Newcastle United, scoring a penalty in the game. In February, Arteta was carried off on a stretcher in a 0–0 draw with Newcastle having injured a ligament in his knee, days after his first inclusion in the Spanish national team squad. The injury kept him out for the rest of the 2008–09 season and the first five months of 2009–10. Over the course of the season, Arteta began to play again in the center of the field, usually being partnered with a defensive midfielder, giving him the freedom to dictate the tempo of the game and connecting with Pienaar and Osman on the wing.

Arteta made his return from injury in January 2010 as a substitute in an FA Cup tie against Birmingham City, before starting in a 2–1 home Premier League win against Chelsea. His first two goals of the season were scored in a 5–1 win over Hull City in March 2010. In August that year, he signed a five-year contract extension with Everton.[14]

The 2010/11 season proved to be not as successful as expected for both the team and the player. After early goals in the season, against Manchester United (in a thriller 3–3 comeback in Goodison Park) and in the Merseyside Derby 2–0 victory, Arteta suffered a loss of form that would be crucial in Everton's push for a European spot. He began to show again glimpses of creative power in the final part of the season, when he was played again on the wing, enjoying more freedom and space.

Upon departing Everton, Arteta said "I am 29 years old so I haven’t got much time left to take a chance like this one. I have done my best for Everton."[15] A few weeks later, he revealed to the Liverpool Echo that the spirit in Everton's dressing room is the 'best in football'.[16]

Arsenal

2011–12 season

Arteta and Arsenal against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League.

Arteta signed with Arsenal on 31 August 2011 on a four-year deal for a reported fee of £10 million.[17] Arteta was given the number 8 jersey, which was last worn by Samir Nasri, who had left the club for Manchester City just over a week earlier. He made his debut on 10 September in a 1–0 home win against Swansea City.[18] Arteta scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal in a 4–3 loss against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.[19] He scored his second goal for the club in a 3–0 home win against West Bromwich Albion as he began to comfortably settle into his playmaking role at Arsenal.[20] He also opened the scoring with a 25-yard "swerving long range shot" in a 4–0 away win against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.[21]

Arteta got his first chance to captain the Gunners in the third-round FA Cup victory over Leeds United, most notably remembered for the second debut of Thierry Henry. His fourth Premier League goal of the season came on 4 February as Arsenal thrashed Blackburn 7–1 at the Emirates, scoring from the edge of the area as a clearance from a corner reached him.[22] On 26 February, Arsenal found themselves 2–0 down in the North London derby against Spurs, and Arteta provided an assist for Bacary Sagna to reduce the deficit to 2–1. Arsenal won the match 5–2. He then scored a brilliant 35-yard free-kick on 24 March in a 3–0 win over Aston Villa, helping his team go a further three points ahead of North London rivals Spurs in the race to secure Champions League football.[23] On 8 April, he scored the winning goal from 25 yards out in a 1–0 win against Manchester City at the Emirates, playing what seemed at the time to be a crucial role in the title race as the defeat for City left them eight points behind rivals Manchester United.[24]

Arteta suffered an ankle sprain in his side's 2–1 loss to Wigan Athletic on 16 April after less than ten minutes, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season.[25] This, however, did not detract from his excellent first season at Arsenal; as a result he was voted by the fans as the fifth most important player of the 2011–12 campaign in Arsenal's Player of the Season poll.[26]

2012–13 season

Arteta in 2012

On 17 August, Arteta was announced as the new vice captain of the club after the departure of former captain Robin van Persie.[27] Following the departure of Alex Song, Arteta had moved into a deeper role and has adapted well to it. On 27 October 2012, he scored his first goal of the season with a close range tap in against Queens Park Rangers to win the game 1–0.[28] On 10 November 2012, Arteta missed a chance to win a game against Fulham, as his penalty at the death was saved by Mark Schwarzer. The game finished 3–3.[29] On 8 December 2012, Arteta scored two penalties to secure Arsenal's 2–0 home victory over West Bromwich Albion and was named Man of the Match.[30] On 22 December 2012, Arteta scored a second-half penalty at Wigan Athletic to gain three points for Arsenal. On 13 January 2013, the day of the Premier League match with Manchester City, Arsenal reported that Arteta would be out for three weeks due to an ankle problem he received in training.[31] On 30 March, Arteta scored from the spot after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain won a penalty. Arsenal then went on beat Reading by 4–1. On 13 April, Arteta scored the equaliser from the penalty spot as Arsenal came from behind to beat Norwich City 3–1 at home. On 4 May, Arteta got his fourth assist of the 2012–13 season, by passing the ball to Theo Walcott, who slotted home in the first minute against Queens Park Rangers. He was voted by the fans as the fourth best player of the 2012–13 campaign in Arsenal's Player of the Season poll, after leading the team to their 17th consecutive top four finish.

2013–14 season

Arteta missed Arsenal's first four games of the Premier League campaign due to injury, but returned to the squad before their game against Stoke City.[32] On 26 October 2013, he scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0 away win over Crystal Palace from the penalty spot. However, he was sent off later in the same match by referee Chris Foy for a foul on Marouane Chamakh.[33] Arteta received his second red card of the season in Arsenal's 2–0 defeat to Napoli in a Champions League group stage match in December 2013.[34] On 8 March 2014, Arteta scored a penalty against Everton in the FA Cup quarter-final, helping Arsenal to a 4–1 win.[35] On 12 April 2014, Arteta scored one of the penalties in the FA Cup semi-final shootout against Wigan Athletic to send Arsenal to the final.[36] On 17 May 2014, Arteta received his first major honours with Arsenal, captaining the team as they beat Hull City 3–2 at Wembley Stadium in the 2014 FA Cup Final.[37]

2014–15 season

In August 2014, Arteta was announced as Arsenal's new club captain. He described the appointment as "a big honour and a privilege, with a big responsibility".[38][39] On 10 August, he won his first trophy as full-time captain, playing the full 90 minutes as Arsenal beat Manchester City 3–0 in the 2014 FA Community Shield.[40][39] He scored his first goal of the season, a penalty, in a 3–3 Champions League draw with Anderlecht on 4 November 2014.[41]

2015–16 season

On 8 July 2015, manager Arsène Wenger revealed that Arteta had signed a one-year extension with Arsenal.[42] Arteta came on as a substitute as Arsenal beat Chelsea 1–0 to win the 2015 FA Community Shield.[43] This was his first competitive appearance for the club since November 2014.[44]

International career

Mikel Arteta is eligible for the Spanish national football team. Arteta has played for Spain at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-21 levels but has not played for the senior international team. He represented Spain in the U16 European Championships, UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup, and FIFA U17 World Cup, and captained Spain in the U21 European Championships qualifying campaign.

In August 2010, several British news organisations erroneously reported that Arteta would be eligible to play for the England national football team due to his eligibility for a British passport. The player is not eligible for England because FIFA Statutes stipulate that the player needs to have held a British passport at the time when he represented Spain at the U16 European Championships and in addition he would have required five years of education in Britain before turning 18.[45][46]

Style of play

Arteta taking a corner kick for Arsenal.

While initially thought of as a "pivot" or defensive midfielder in the mould of his hero Pep Guardiola,[47] it was only since being moved to a more attacking role, first by Luis Fernandez at PSG,[5] then by David Moyes at Everton, that Arteta's career truly began to flourish. Although he achieved moderate success from central midfield with PSG and Rangers, his move to a more attacking role saw him rated as the sixth most effective player in the Premier League in 2006–07 by the official player ratings system the Actim Index.

With 100 fouls committed against him in the 2006–07 season he was the most fouled player in the Premier League.[48]

Additionally, he has proved an extremely potent creative force thanks mainly to his pinpoint crossing ability and propensity for the killer pass, with his total of 12 league assists in the 2006–07 season being third to Cesc Fàbregas and Cristiano Ronaldo.[49]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 30 January 2016[50]
Club Season League Cup1 Europe Total
AppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssists
Barcelona B 1999–2000 261–—261–
2000–01 162–—162–
Total 423–—423–
Paris Saint-Germain 2000–01 6101004001110
2001–02 251072010104240
Total 312082014105350
Rangers 2002–03 27407101003550
2003–04 23804006103390
Total 50120111071068140
Real Sociedad 2004–05 1510000—1510
Total 1510000—1510
Everton 2004–05[51] 1212100—1312
2005–06[51] 29175103103737
2006–07[51] 3599400—3999
2007–08[51] 28152007303745
2008–09[51] 26663102003177
2009–10[51] 13611002001661
2010–11[51] 2935400—3335
2011–12[51] 210110—320
Total 1742835213014402093435
Arsenal 2011–12[51] 29623006003862
2012–13[51] 34632017014365
2013–14[51] 31206106004330
2014–15[51] 7010004101111
2015–16[51] 8003001001200
Total 10914614112411147168
Career total 4205941547159615347343

Honours

Club

Paris Saint-Germain
Rangers
Arsenal

International

Spain

Individual

Personal life

Arteta's wife is the former Miss Spain Lorena Bernal.[52] with whom he has three sons, Gabriel, Daniel and Oliver. He is close friends with Xabi Alonso, who plays for FC Bayern Munich. The two used to be neighbours at Liverpool's Albert Dock apartment complex.[52]

Arteta is multilingual, speaking fluent Spanish, Basque, Catalan and English. He speaks some French, Italian and Portuguese.[53]

References

  1. ↑ "Player shirt numbers for 20 Barclays Premier League clubs released". Premier League. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Mikel Arteta". UEFA. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Cahill Calls for Arteta Call Up". evertonfc.com. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 "Mikel Arteta: 'It's a long way from San Sebastian...'". The Independent (London). 19 November 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Les Glasgow Rangers subtilisent Arteta au PSG". Le Parisien (in French). 20 March 2002. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Rangers sign Barca boy Arteta". The Guardian. 19 March 2002. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "Old Firm in thrilling draw". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2014-12-21.
  8. ↑ "Rangers complete Treble". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2014-12-21.
  9. ↑ "Games played by Mikel Arteta in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2014-12-21.
  10. ↑ "Mikel Arteta: Rangers move made me a top flight player". STV Sport. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Squad Profiles: Mikel Arteta". evertonfc.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  12. ↑ "Midfielder of the year". evertonfc.com. Retrieved 17 June 2007.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Mikel Arteta / Everton Squad, Everton Players / evertonfc.com – The Official Website of Everton Football Club. Evertonfc.com (28 March 1982). Retrieved on 2012-06-11.
  14. ↑ "Arteta Contract Photo Exclusive". Everton F.C. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  15. ↑ "Arteta defends move to Arsenal". BBC Sport. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  16. ↑ "Arteta believes Everton team spirit is the best in football". Liverpool Echo. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  17. ↑ "Arteta joins Arsenal on a four-year deal". Arsenal.com. 31 August 2011.
  18. ↑ McNulty, Phil. (10 September 2011) BBC Sport – Arsenal 1–0 Swansea. Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2012-06-11.
  19. ↑ Beasley, Rob. "Blackburn 4 Arsenal 3". The Sun (London).
  20. ↑ Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Football. Express.co.uk (7 November 2011). Retrieved on 2012-06-11.
  21. ↑ Sinnott, John. (3 December 2011) BBC Sport – Wigan 0–4 Arsenal. Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2012-06-11.
  22. ↑ "Arsenal 7–1 Blackburn" BBC Sport.4 February 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  23. ↑ Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Football. Express.co.uk (26 March 2012). Retrieved on 2012-06-11.
  24. ↑ "Arsenal 1–0 Manchester City" BBC Sport. 8 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  25. ↑ Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta ruled out of run-in – ESPN Soccernet. Soccernet.espn.go.com (20 April 2012). Retrieved on 2012-06-11.
  26. ↑ Kelly, Rob (28 May 2012). "Player of the Season – in fifth place is...". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  27. ↑ "Vermaelen confirmed as new Arsenal captain". 17 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  28. ↑ "Wenger – arsenal plays an intelligent role". Arsenal.com. 15 September 2012.
  29. ↑ Stanton, John (10 November 2012). "Arsenal 3–3 Fulham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  30. ↑ Sanghera, Mandeep (8 December 2012). "Arsenal 2–0 West Brom". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  31. ↑ "Arsenal's Mikel Arteta ruled out for three weeks". 14 January 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  32. ↑ http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/430915/Mikel-Arteta-back-as-Arsene-Wenger-hails-Aaron-Ramsey-ahead-of-Stoke-clash
  33. ↑ "Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2 match report: Gunners made to work by rejuvenated Eagles". The Independent. 27 October 2013.
  34. ↑ Magowan, Alistair (11 December 2013). "Napoli 2–0 Arsenal". BBC. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  35. ↑ "Arsenal 4–1 Everton". BBC. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  36. ↑ "Arsenal 1–1 Wigan". BBC. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  37. ↑ "Arsenal 3–2 Hull". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  38. ↑ "Wenger on winning and attacking options". Arsenal. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  39. 1 2 "Arteta looks to build on Community Shield win and reflects on captaincy". London 24. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  40. ↑ "Arsenal 3–0 Man City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2014-12-21.
  41. ↑ "Arsenal 3–3 Anderlecht". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2014-12-21.
  42. ↑ "Wenger – Arteta has signed new deal". Arsenal F.C. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  43. ↑ "Arsenal 1–0 Chelsea". BBC. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Mikel Arteta in 2014/2015". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  45. ↑ "Arteta pick not possible – Levein". BBC News. 30 August 2010.
  46. ↑ "Fabio Capello embarrassed as Fifa rule confirms Mikel Arteta's ineligibility to play for England". Daily Telegraph (London). 1 September 2010.
  47. ↑ "Arteta: Artist of Goodison". Daily Mail (London). 17 August 2007.
  48. ↑ ESPNsoccernet: Mikel Arteta. Soccernet.espn.go.com (26 March 1982). Retrieved on 2012-06-11.
  49. ↑ Players. Premierleague.com. Retrieved on 2012-06-11.
  50. ↑ "Mikel Arteta". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  51. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Mikel Arteta". Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  52. 1 2 "Arteta: Artist of Goodison". Daily Mail (London). 17 August 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
  53. ↑ Arteta's Love Affair with Everton. Evertonfc.com (15 September 2007). Retrieved on 2012-06-11.

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Thomas Vermaelen		 Arsenal captain
2014–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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