Rollercoaster of Wembley highs to crippling lows - the Everton year in pictures

IT has been a year of dazzling highs - from a Wembley cup final via a dramatic derby success, to frustrating lows as injuries bit deep into Everton's squad. As ever, there was never a dull moment. If supporters weren't plotting a way to get to places like Borisov and Athens, they were learning the various ways a player's cruciate knee ligament can go wrong. Here Everton writer Greg O'Keeffe picks his favourite images which illustrated the Blues' 2009. PHIL Jagielka wheels away in a victory lap propelled by relief and delight in equal measures, after tucking away the penalty which saw Everton overcome Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final on April 19.The Blues had a worrying start to the shoot-out with Tim Cahill blasting his kick over the bar, but Tim Howard saved Dimitar Berbatov's tame effort to give them hope.Then conversions from Phil Neville against his old club and James Vaughan steadied nerves before Jags' big moment. The centre-back had been immense all season, but perhaps recalled his saved penalty against Fiorentina which contributed to Everton bowing out of the UEFA Cup the season before.Yet from the moment he planted the ball purposefully on the spot, there was ice-water flowing through the Yorkshireman's veins. Jags made sure with a faultless spot-kick.Cue mayhem in the stands and massive grins amid the euphoria when the theme from Z Cars blared out over the Wembley PA.It was a flitting, happy moment for the England centre-half before missing the final through injury. That he hasn't played since, adds a poignant edge. AT FIRST it seemed so innocuous. Mikel Arteta took a gentle tumble without an opposition player in sight as the Blues fought out a draw against Newcastle United on Tyneside.But then the look on his face. Sheer, searing agony as the Spaniard grasped for his knee unaware then that the fall and twist had shredded his cruciate knee ligament.It was the injury no professional footballer would wish on another. One which has haunted Michael Owen and a host of other big names.That it should befall Everton's star player and creative heart-beat was enough to depress supporters. That it should then deprive them of their inspirational centre-back Phil Jagielka too, was beyond frustrating.Arteta's recovery has been fraught with set-backs and he approaches 10 months out of the game next month.How supporters long to see the sparkling skills of the player they call the best little Spaniard they know light-up the Premier League again.

Source: Liverpool_Echo