Mikel Arteta has admitted that he moved to Arsenal in the summer without even completing a medical, due to the last-gasp nature of his deadline day transfer from Everton.
The midfielder moved to North London in a £10 million deal, and has since played six of Arsene Wenger’s men’s resulting seven fixtures.
Despite this, the Spaniard has revealed the pressurised situation in which he had to endure to complete his move to the Emirates.
“It was very stressful. At 6pm, they said everything had broken down. Then, at 8.30pm, everything started again,” he told Mirror Football.
“But there wasn’t time to have a medical. I went to the offices of the club [Everton] and from there I told Arsenal to trust me and that if some medical problem was found it would be my responsibility.
The news seems to contradict Arsenal’s usual careful approach in the transfer market, especially given the fact that Arteta spent almost a year on the sidelines at Goodison Park in 2009 after a knee ligament operation.
Arteta’s acquisition was partly to plug the gap left by the departing Cesc Fabregas, but he is not comparing himself to his now Barcelona based countryman.
“I am not here to replace Cesc, if I try to do that, it will turn out badly. I’ve been here for three weeks and he was here seven years.
“I have a personality which is definitely different to his. I would be making a mistake if I was trying to be the same or even better than him.
“I have to find my own way; my own style. Cesc was the best player of Arsenal and one of the three best players in the Premier League. My aim is only to try to give my maximum level as a player and help the team as much as I can,” he concluded.
By Gareth McKnight
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