Arsenal Confirm Signing of Everton's Mikel Arteta

In what could prove to be a rather astute bit of business, Arsene Wenger has secured his most significant signing of the transfer window with the confirmation coming in from Arsenal that Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta had joined the club just before the close of the transfer window.

By Matt Holmes /

Arsene Wenger has secured his most significant signing of the transfer window with the confirmation coming in from Arsenal that Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta had joined the club just before the close of the transfer window. The deal had looked to have collapsed just two hours before the transfer window was due to close at 11pm when Arsenal attempted to save cash with a player-exchange offer but in the end, they were told by Everton that it had to be a cash only deal and eventually they came up with the money. Arsene Wenger then has replaced a World Cup winner in Cesc Fabregas with a man who has never played for his country Spain at senior level in Mikel Arteta but that's something of an anomaly as he would walk into the England team (where he is eligible to play by the way) and is one of the best in the league in his position. Becoming something of an Everton legend Arteta has played 161 times in the six years he was at the club scoring 27 times but with his creative play and energy created so many more. He will thrive at Arsenal and his signing, along with that of Yossi Benayoun, Andre Santos and Per Mertesacker will at least go someway to erasing the Arsenal fans anger at the players who have departed.

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