Followers on Twitter and contributors to forums may remember my concerns about Mikel Arteta's future at Everton a couple of weeks earlier, after Cesc Fabregas' prolonged yet inevitable departure from the Emirates to Camp Nou. Often described as a Wenger type player my only doubt about the Frenchman's pursuit of Everton's most creative player was that maybe his age may be of a concern, as it would mean breaking a tried tested recruitment policy spanning 16 years.

In my mind the catalyst for the transfer was the 8-2 mauling suffered by the North Londoner's to their once nearest rival in league terms, the scoreline may have brought home how far behind Arsenal had fallen, not really considered a part of the chasing pack anymore, never a team known to spend outrageously like Chelsea, Liverpool, the Manchester sides and perhaps more recently, and painfully for Gooners, Tottenham. Arsenal needed to show intent and the way to do that was to use some of the money gained from both Samir Nasri and Fabregas' recent moves, to panic buy and try and smokescreen their recent demolition as soon as possible.

Realistically, Everton had five stand out players with potential to have suitors elsewhere (six if you are to believe John Heitinga’s assessment of himself but I'll reserve judgement on that), Howard, Baines, Jagielka , Fellaini and Arteta. Although Arteta has never featured on the world stage he found his form at a time when Spain are flush with creative midfielders so is possibly unlucky to not have capped for his country of birth at this point, sceptics may suggest now he is at a more “fashionable” club his chances have improved, we shall see.

Looking at his age, form, contract and position, from those five if one had to be sacrificed in order to balance the books a bit, the right player went. That's not to say he will not be missed, he will, his vision, passing and general calming influence was some of the best I've witnessed at Goodison Park, however the last 18 months his form has not been at the standard he had set for himself in the previous 5 years. In business terms, the deal made sense, the total revenue from the sale is in the region on £20m, taking into consideration the asking price, sell on fee to Real Sociedad and saving in wages.

He has stated in interviews since signing for Arsenal that his thought process regarding making the move centred around two things, what was best him and his career and what was best for the club, the fact the latter was even a consideration in a day and age where loyalty in Football is seemingly more and more dependant about how much someone will be paid, it speaks volumes about the man.

It has become even more significant and fitting that Arteta would sign off with a last minute winner against Blackburn Rovers before the international break, not that he or the supporters who adored him could really foresee what would happen so late on Transfer Deadline Day.

Arteta's departure overshadowed the astute acquisition of Royston Drenthe from Real Madrid. Like Arteta was in 2005, Drenthe has seen his stature as promising youth player wilt in recent years and has been brought in initially on loan in order to try and secure a free transfer at the end of this campaign, if all goes well. He arrives with murmurings of a bit of a reputation as a disruptive influence but also one that possesses plenty of talent and the pace we have been craving out wide for years. His arrival may not be enough to quell the current feeling of disappointment at losing the best little Spaniard we know, but in time he may prove to be another master stroke from David Moyes just as Mikel Arteta was in 2005.

Jaun Arteta, Eskerrik asko eta Agur.

This week I appear on the ESPN Soccernet Podcast, discussing Arteta's move further, what it means for the shape of the first team this season and how Everton's current financial situation is impacting the Club's future and fans morale, to listen please follow the link below:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=376252&cc=5739

Thanks for reading.

Jacko. Follow me on Twitter @jackdoggydogg

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