Mikel Arteta

**Mikel Arteta Amatriain** (born 26 Mairch 1982) is a Spaingie reteert professional fitbawer.

Arteta stairtit oot as a trainee wi FC Barcelona but cidnae break his wey intae the first team an wis eventually lent tae Paris Saint-Germain in the French league. He wis then signed bi Scottish Premier League club Rangers wi that he wad win the domestic treble o the league, Scottish Cup an League Cup in the saison o 2002–03. Efter success in Scotland, Arteta muivit back tae Spain tae play for Real Sociedad but failed tae establish hissel athin the first team an wis lent tae Everton for the remainder o the 2004–05 saison, prior tae signin permanently in Julie 2005. He then made a permanent transfer tae Arsenal in 2011. He wis appointit caiptain o the club in August 2014.

He uised tae play fur  as weel.

Arteta haes representit Spain at unner-21 level, but he haesnae played for the senior naitional team.

## Club career

### Early career
Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Basque Kintra, Arteta began his fitbaw career at Antiguoko an befriendit fellae midfielder Xabi Alonso as thay wad play thegither every weekend.  The twa wad aften play alang the beaches an gutters o San Sebastián an dreamt o playin thegither at Real Sociedad. Arteta left for the FC Barcelona B squad at 15 years o age while Alonso signed for Real Sociedad later. Despite his potential Arteta failed tae break intae the first team, an went oot on lend tae French club Paris Saint-Germain in Dizember 2000. In Paris, durin a saison an a hauf, Arteta wis uised bi manager Luis Fernández as a playmaker. While PSG fand Arteta crucial for thair gemme, wanted tae keep him at the end o the lend period, an haed a buyin first option, Arteta's transfer tae Rangers wis feenally arrangit as early as in Mairch 2002, as mair financially interestin for Barcelona.

### Rangers
Arteta jynt Scottish club Rangers in 2002, winnin the 2003 Scottish Premier League title as well as the Scottish Cup an Scots League Cup. Arteta enjoyed a successfu first saison at Rangers an quickly established himsel as a first team regular an a fans' favourite. He returned tae Spain efter twa saisons in Glesga.

### Real Sociedad
He jyned Real Sociedad for €5.2 million in 2004 wi the idea o Arteta an Xabi Alonso playin thegither. Housomeivver, Alonso left for Liverpool an Arteta failed tae establish hissel in the team.

### Everton

Everton manager David Moyes signed Arteta in the 2005 Januar transfer windae on loan wi a view tae a permanent transfer. Seen as a replacement for Dens midfielder Thomas Gravesen, Arteta played a vital pairt in helpin Everton achieve UEFA Champions League qualification possibility, housomeivver thay wur knockit oot in the last qualifyin roond. He scored his first Everton goal in the 4–0 victory ower Crystal Palace. Arteta signed a permanent five-year deal in Julie 2005 for a fee o £2 million.

The 2005–06 saison saw Arteta pick up baith the Everton *Fans' Player of the Season* an the *Players' Player of the Season* awairds. Arteta's guid shape extendit intae 2006–07. As well as retainin his stairtin place, he frequently turned in man-o-the-match displays, an feenished the saison wi nine goals frae the 35 league gemms he played. Arteta wis awairdit the *Player of the Season Award* for the seicont consecutive year. He wis votit the Premiership's 'Midfielder of the Year' bi the readers o Sky Sports an aw, beatin PFA Players' Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.

Arteta's creativity wis a essential pairt o Everton's attackin play the follaein saison, an he haed scored sax goals bi the end o Januar. That impruivit further a saison later, scorin nine times in the 2006–07 saison an ance again endin the saison as the Player of the Year. He helpit Everton secur a place in the UEFA Cup an wis rankit bi the ACTIM Index as the saxt best player in the Premiership but it did no earn him a caw-up intae the full Spain squad. Durin the simmer o 2007, he signed a new five-year contract.

Arteta addit anither accolade tae his growin collection during the 2007–08 season, when he pickit up North West Footballer of the Year awaird. He then became the first Everton player in five years tae receive the Liverpool Echo's Sports Personality of the Year awaird in Januar 2008.

Arteta suffered a painch injury in the seicont hauf o the saison, an shortly afore the final gemme of the campaign, he underwent surgery tae rectify the problem. He scored his first goal o the 2008–09 season in the Premier League opener versus Blackburn Rovers wi a free kick. He wis named caiptain for a 2–2 draw wi Newcastle United, scorin a penalty in the gemme. In Februar, Arteta wis carriet aff on a stretcher in a 0–0 draw wi Newcastle haein injured a ligament in his knee, days efter his first inclusion in the Spainyie naitional team squad. The injury kept him oot for the rest o the 2008–09 saison an the first five month o 2009–10. Ower the course o the saison, Arteta began tae play again in the centre o the field, uisually bein pairtnered wi a defensive midfielder, giein him the freedom tae dictate the tempo o the gemme an connectin wi Pienaar an Osman on the wing.

Arteta made his return frae injury in Januar 2010 as a substitute in an FA Cup tee against Birmingham City, afore stairtin in a 2–1 hame Premier League win against Chelsea. His first twa goals o the saison wur scored in a 5–1 win ower Hull City in Mairch 2010. In August that year he signed a five-year contract extension wi Everton.

The 2010/11 saison pruivit tae be no sae successfu as expectit for baith the team an the player. Efter early goals in the saison, against Manchester United (in a thriller 3-3 comeback in Goodison Park) an in the Merseyside Derby 2-0 victory, Arteta suffered a loss o shape that wad be crucial in Everton push for a European spot. He begun tae shaw again glimpses o creative pouer in the feenal pairt o the saison, when he wis played again on the wing, enjoyin mair freedom an space.

Upon depairtin 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." A few weeks later he revealed tae the Liverpool Echo that the spirit in Everton's dressin room is the 'best in football'.

### Arsenal

#### 2011–12 saison

Arteta signed wi Arsenal on 31 August 2011 on a fower-year deal for a reportit fee of £10 million. Arteta wis gien the nummer 8 jersey, which wis last worn bi Samir Nasri, that haed left the club for Manchester City juist ower a week earlier. He made his debut on 10 September in a 1–0 hame win against Swansea City. Arteta scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal in a 4–3 loss agin Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. He scored his seicont goal for the club in a 3–0 hame win agin West Bromwich Albion as he began tae comfortably settle intae his playmakkin role at Arsenal. He opened the scorin wi a 25-yard "swervin lang range shot" in a 4–0 awa win agin Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium an aw.

Arteta wis able tae hae his first chance tae caiptain the Gunners in the third roond FA Cup victory ower Leeds United, maistly notably remembered for the seicont debut o Thierry Henry. His fowert Premier League goal o the saison came on 4 Februar as Arsenal thrashed Blackburn 7–1 at the Emirates, scorin frae the edge o the aurie as a clearance frae a corner reached him. On 26 Februar, Arsenal fand thairsels 2–0 doun in the North Lunnon derby against Spurs, an Arteta providit a assist for Bacary Sagna tae reduce the deficit tae 2–1. Arsenal wan the spiel 5–2. He then scored a brilliant 35-yard free-kick on 24 Mairch in a 3–0 win ower Aston Villa, helpin his team go a further three pynts aheid o North Lunnon rivals Spurs in the race tae secure Champions League fitbaw. On 8 Apryle, he scored the winnin goal frae 25 yards oot in a 1–0 win against Manchester City at the Emirates, playin, what seemit at the time, a crucial role in the title race as the defeat for City left thaim aicht pynts ahint rivals Manchester United.

Arteta suffered a ankle sprain in his side's 2–1 loss tae Wigan Athletic on 16 Apryle efter less nor ten minutes, that sidelined him for the remainder o the saison. This, housomeivver, didna detract frae his excellent first saison at Arsenal; as a result he wis votit bi the fans as the fift maist important player o the 2011–12 campaign in Arsenal's Player of the Season poll.

#### 2012–13 saison

On 17 August, Arteta wis annooncit as the new vice caiptain o the club efter the depairtur o umwhile caiptain Robin van Persie. Follaein the depairtur o Alex Song, Arteta haed muivit ontae a deeper role an haes adaptit well tae it. On 27 October 2012, he scored his first goal o the saison wi a close range tap in against Queens Park Rangers tae win the gemme 1–0. On 10 November 2012, Arteta missed a chance tae win a gemme against Fulham, as his penalty at the daith wis savit bi Mark Schwarzer. The gemme feenished 3–3. On 8 Dizember 2012, Arteta scored twa penalties tae secure Arsenal's 2–0 hame victory ower West Bromwich Albion an wis namit Man of the Match. On 22 Dizember 2012, Arteta scored a seicont hauf penalty at Wigan Athletic tae gain three pynts for Arsenal. On 13 Januar 2013, the day o the  Premier League match wi Manchester City, Arsenal reportit that Arteta wad be oot for three weeks due tae a ankle problem he receivit in trainin. On 30 Mairch, Arteta scored frae the spot efter Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain winnin a penalty. Arsenal went tae beat Reading 4–1. On 13 Apryle, Arteta scored the equaliser frae the penalty spot as Arsenal came frae ahint tae beat Norwich City 3–1 at hame. On 4 Mey, Arteta got his fowert assist o the 2012–13 saison, bi passin the baw tae Theo Walcott, who slottit hame in the first minute against Queens Park Rangers. He wis votit bi the fans as the fowert best player o the 2012–13 campaign in Arsenal's Player of the Season poll, efter leadin the team tae thair 17t consecutive tap fower feenish.

#### 2013–14 saison
Arteta missed Arsenal's first fower gemmes o the Premier League campaign due tae injury, but returned tae the squad afore thair gemme against Stoke City. On 26 October 2013, he scored his first goal o the saison in a 2–0 awa win ower Crystal Palace frae the penalty spot. Housomeivver, he wis sent aff later in the same match bi referee Chris Foy for a foul on Marouane Chamakh. Arteta receivit his seicont reid caird o the saison in Arsenal's 2–0 defeat tae Napoli in a Champions League group stage match in Dizember 2013. On 8 Mairch 2014, Arteta scored a penalty against Everton in the FA Cup quairter-feenal, helpin Arsenal tae a 4–1 win. On 12 Apryle 2014, Arteta scored ane o the penalties in the FA Cup semi-feenal shuitoot against Wigan Athletic tae send Arsenal tae the feenal. On 17 Mey 2014, Arteta receivit his first major honours wi Arsenal, caiptainin the team as thay beat Hull City 3–2 at Wembley Stadium in the 2014 FA Cup Feenal.

#### 2014–15 saison
In August 2014, Arteta wis annooncit as Arsenal's new club caiptain. He describit the appointment as "a big honour an a privilege, wi a big responsibility". On 10 August, he wan his first trophy as full-time caiptain, playin the full 90 minutes as Arsenal beat Manchester City 3–0 in the 2014 FA Community Shield. He scored his first goal of the season, a penalty, in a 3–3 Champions League draw wi Anderlecht on 4 November 2014.

#### 2015–16 saison
On 8 Julie 2015, manager Arsène Wenger revealed that Arteta haed signed a ane-year extension wi Arsenal. Arteta came on as a substitute as Arsenal beat Chelsea 1–0 tae win the 2015 FA Community Shield. This wis his first competitive appearance for the club syne November 2014.

## Internaitional career

Mikel Arteta is eligible for the Spainyie naitional fitbaw team. Arteta haes played for Spain at Unner 16, Unner 17, Unner 18 an Under 21 levels but haes no played for the senior internaitional team. He representit Spain in the U16 European Championships, UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup, FIFA U17 Warld Cup an caiptained Spain in the U21 European Championships qualifyin campaign.

In August 2010, several Breetish news organisations erroneously reportit that Arteta wad be eligible tae play for the Ingland naitional fitbaw team due tae his eligibility for a Breetish passport. The player isnae eligible for Ingland acause FIFA Statutes stipulate that the player needs tae hae held a Breetish passport at the time when he representit Spain at the U16 European Championships an in addeetion he wad hae required five years o eddication in Breetain afore turnin 18.

In November 2011, Arteta reiteratit his desire tae ane day represent his kintra at internaitional level. "It’s one of my targets and I won’t stop going for it because I really want to represent my country". He went on tae praise the current Spainyie midfield as "the best midfield the world has ever seen".

On 10 October 2012, fellae Spaniard an Arsenal team-mate Santi Cazorla said that it wis 'strange' that Arteta haed niver been caaed up bi Spain despite consistently impressin in the Premier League.

## Style o play

Whiles initially thocht o as a "pivot" or defensive midfielder in the moud o his hero Pep Guardiola, it is anerly sin bein shiftit tae a mair attackin role, first bi Luis Fernandez in PSG, then bi David Moyes in Everton, that Arteta's career haes truly begun tae flourish. Awtho he achievit moderate success frae central midfield wi PSG an Rangers, his muive tae a mair attackin role saw him ratit as the saxt maist effective player in the Premier League in 2006-07 bi the offeecial player ratins seestem the Actim Index.

Wi 100 fouls committit against him in the 2006–07 saison he wis the maist fouled player in the Premier League.

Addeetionally, he haes pruivit an extremely potent creative force thanks mainly tae his pinpoint crossin ability an propensity for the killer pass, wi his tot o 12 league assists in the 2006–07 saison bein third tae Cesc Fàbregas an Cristiano Ronaldo.

## Career statistics

### Club

:1  Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, FA Cup an Football League Cup 

## Honours

### Club
;Paris Saint-Germain
*UEFA Intertoto Cup (1): 2001

;Rangers
*Scottish Premier League (1): 2002–03
*Scottish Cup (1): 2002–03
*Scottish League Cup (1): 2002–03

;Arsenal
*FA Cup (1): 2013–14
*FA Community Shield (1): 2014

### Internaitional
;Spain
*UEFA European Unner-16 Fitbaa Championship: 1999
*UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup: 1999

### Individual
*Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Month (2): September 2002, August 2003
*Everton Player of the Season (2): 2005–06, 2006–07
*Everton Players' Player of the Season (1): 2005–06
*Sky Sports Midfielder of the Year (1): 2006–07
*North West Player of the Year (1): 2006–07

## Personal life
Arteta's wife is the umwhile Miss Spain Lorena Bernal. wi that he haes twa sons, Gabriel an Daniel. He is close friends wi Xabi Alonso, that plays for Barcelona. The twa uised tae be neebours at Liverpool's Albert Dock apartment complex.

Arteta is multilingual, speakin fluent Spainyie, Basque, Catalan an Inglis. He speaks some French, Italian an Portuguese.

Recently, Mikel haes testit positive for Coronavirus 

## References

## Freemit airtins
*Premier League Profile 
*Arsenal F.C. Profile 
*Everton F.C. Profile 
*Soccerbase Profile
*LFP Profile 
*FIFA Profile 
*UEFA Profile 
*IMDb Profile