Source: FOOTYMAD
Arteta's 5 year plan...
Mikel Arteta has signed a 5-year-deal with Everton so there's one in the eye for the rumour mill...if the rumour mill even has an eye! Talk about mixing your metaphors! The best little Spaniard we know has put pen to paper on a deal - presumably it's been put in writing - that will keep him at Everton until 2015. And so positively tens of internet hacks will have their head in their hands as they try and think of some other Spanish player to link to Barcelona. But it's great news for Everton who have secured another of their starts on a long-term deal. It's been clear that David Moyes' position this summer has been to secure the services of the players that he sees as an integral part of the squad and, in getting Arteta to commit, it's pretty much job done now! Tim Cahill was the first to extend his Everton contract and was swiftly followed by Seamus Coleman, Jack Rodwell and Leighton Baines. The only player who's future is still in the balance is Steven Pienaar so you can be sure that the screws will be getting tightened on him now. The official site is full of gushing praise for the club from Arteta, gushing praise of Arteta from Bill Kenwright and gushing praise of Kenwright from Moyes but there's been no talk of any figures regarding Arteta's improved salary. He's obviously on a better weekly wage because no matter how romantic the notion of him staying because the 'grass isn't always greener...' it's simply a fact that footballers, like most employees, stay or go on the basis of the amount of money they can earn. Which is all well and good, but when the club and it's fans are kept waiting because a player may want an extra £10,000 a week - A WEEK! - then it all get a bit tiresome! Anyway, to end on a positive, this latest bit of business by the Blues has come at a great time and we can all actually look forward to the start of the season without looking over our shoulder at who might be coming in for one of our top performers!
