Mikel Arteta: Hard decisions for picking Everton's best team

Nov 27 2007 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

MIKEL ARTETA admits his manager is facing some “hard decisions” when selecting his side to take on Portsmouth this Saturday.

Following the 7-1 thrashing of Sunderland at the weekend Everton go to Fratton Park to face what will surely be a much sterner test of their top six credentials for this season.

And the current form being shown by the players in the side, coupled with the quality of those left out of the 11 at Goodison Park on Saturday, convinces Arteta that Everton are approaching their best form since he joined almost three years ago.

“We’ve got some terrific players on the bench and in the stands as well – so there’s some hard decisions for the manager,” said Arteta.

“Because we are all in really good condition and fitness is at a really good level, so we hope we can keep the run going. Everyone in the squad is going to be really important.

“Confidence is probably higher than it’s been since I’ve been here and we’re playing a different way as well.

“We are playing much more like a passing team now, going through the back, and we haven’t seen that for a long time here.

“And we scored some terrific goals on Saturday by playing one-twos and playing good football under pressure.

“We are playing with five in midfield so we have more freedom and more space and I’m really enjoying it because we’ve got really good players technically in the middle and people who can put the ball in the back of the net – so that’s a good combination.”

One of those hitting the net more regularly than most at the moment is record signing Yakubu, who is now the club’s leading scorer this season with six.

Four of those have come in his last five appearances as Everton have flourished in front of goal to such an extent that only leaders Arsenal have now scored more than them.

And Arteta is well aware of the contribution the Nigerian is currently making as he gradually starts to live up to the £11.25million price tag attached to him when he joined form Middlesbrough.

“When you come to any new club it’s hard to get off to a good start,” Arteta added.

“And it’s funny because he did the hard bit by actually scoring in his first game but then after that it went a bit slower for him.

“But he’s starting to come good now and when you put the ball in the box he’s putting in the back of the net so we’re pleased for him.”