Mikel Arteta: Arsenal's engine (Video)

From the moment he joined the Premier League when Everton signed him on loan in 2004 and then permanently in 2005 I have always admired Mikel Arteta.

The Spanish midfielder's versatility and effort his second to none in the league and when he signed for Arsenal in 2011 it was a signing Arsene Wenger should have made years prior to that.

It is also an absolute crime that Arteta has never featured for his country. Yes, Spain have a lot of fantastic players to choose from but Arteta deserves one cap, at the very least.

This past season Arteta truly was the pass master. There weren't many who made or completed more passes than Arteta in the whole of Europe last season.

Critics will point out that most of these passes were lateral, to the wings, but these were so important helping Arsenal to tick last season. With the exit of Alex Song to Barcelona (how is that working out?) Arteta was asked to sit deeper in midfield and take on more defensive responsibilities and he flourished.

Arteta never gave anything less than 100% for his team and the effort he put it in was outstanding. He led the team in tackles made and interceptions all the while maintain a ridiculously high pass accuracy. For Arsenal fans he was the key to making them work and if he had been lost to injury during that crucial run in at the end of last season it may have been Spurs in fourth place.

The man also possess the most immaculate hair you have ever seen. There is never one out of place. Mikel Arteta; excellent hair, brilliant game.

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