Arsene Wenger completed one of the biggest deadline day deals when secured the signature of Everton captain Mikel Arteta on a four-year deal at Arsenal.
The Frenchman had endured a difficult summer period in which both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri completed their moves away from the Emirates, and Arteta’s move to Arsenal has received a mixed reaction among both Evertonians and the Arsenal faithful, with both sets of fans disagreeing over who has done the ‘better business’ – David Moyes or Arsene Wenger?
While Wenger has often been criticised for failing to bring in big names, or spend heavily in the transfer windows, the Arsenal boss remained adamant he would not pay over his valuation for a player, but would be willing to spend ‘big’ if necessary. Having brought in over £50m through the sale of Fabregas and Nasri, it was perhaps somewhat surprising to see the Frenchman fork out just £10million for a player who would be filling such an important void in the Arsenal midfield.
Wenger will have had enough time to look around, and even make an offer for any player he might have wanted over the summer window and at 29-years-old, it seems somewhat unlikely that Mikel Arteta would have been top of his ‘wish list’.
Last minute swoops for Denis Stracqualursi and Real Madrid midfielder Royston Drenthe were the only players to be brought in by David Moyes this summer, however both players will only remain at Goodison for the season on loan. Chairman Bill Kenwright openly expressed his frustrations at being unable to generate the funds to bring in new players, and insisted the clubs inability to borrow any more money was damaging their transfer plans significantly.
Arteta had previously discussed the importance of keeping the top players at Goodison Park, but the opportunity of Champions League football is believed to have been pivotal in his decision to move to North London.
At 29, perhaps the £10 million received for Arteta is actually a good piece of business by Moyes. Arteta has been hugely influential in the heart of Everton’s midfield, and was arguably the clubs best player throughout a number of Premier League seasons. However the Spaniard has recently struggled with serious injury, and after damaging his knee ligaments in February of 2008, the midfielder missed the rest of the season as well as five months of the 2009/10 campaign.
Obviously from an ill informed lazy journalist
Everton captain?
lets judge a player after one game,like im judging your article ,im going for crap article after just one read.