Premier League - Arteta ruled out until next season

Eurosport - Mon, 23 Feb 14:29:00 2009

Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta has been ruled out for the rest of the season after scans confirmed a ruptured cruciate knee ligament.

2008-2009 Everton Mikel Arteta - 0

The Spaniard was carried off on a stretcher after landing awkwardly in the third minute of Sunday's 0-0 Premier League draw at Newcastle.

Arteta was immediately driven back to Merseyside, and scans on Sunday night showed a serious injury to his right knee that will keep him out at least until the end of the season in May.

The 26-year-old is a talismanic figure for Everton, and has contributed six Premier League goals and seven assists this season, helping the Toffees to sixth in the table.

Manager David Moyes said: "Injuries are part of football but what we'll miss is that we don't have the squad or numbers to do it.

"You've got to have the numbers, and that's where our problem comes."

Moyes has already lost Yakubu Ayegbeni for the season with a ruptured Achilles, while fellow striker James Vaughan is not expected back until the middle of next month because of a knee injury.

Midfielders Leon Osman (stomach strain) and Steven Pienaar (hamstring) missed the Newcastle game.

"We have had players out of position before but not this much out of position," Moyes added "We are close to breaking point."

Everton also saw striker Victor Anichebe hobble off after a horrific two-footed challenge from Kevin Nolan that saw the Newcastle midfielder sent off, although the 20-year-old has only suffered bruising.

Anichebe said: "I've never felt as much pain in my life. I thought I'd broken my leg.

"I couldn't even look down, to be fair. It was a terrible tackle but I don't think he really meant it, he came and said sorry. But what can you do?

"I felt so much pain. Now it's not too bad. It's not as bad as I first thought anyway, but I'm feeling a bit of pain in my knee and the back of my calf and down my shin so we'll see how it is."

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 16 of 36

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  1. best wishes on a speedy recovery arteta ou will be­ badly missed nolan by rights should get a hefty ban if­ it had of been barton he would have from j e hayes­ cooxteth

    From john h, on Mon 23 Feb 12:47PM

  2. I guess it wont be until some guy takes a weapon onto­ the pitch, professional wrestling style, before we­ realise that its not enough to just say sorry. There­ was nothing about that lunge by Nolan that suggested he­ was engaged in tackling for the ball or interested in­ ensuring his opponent was left unharmed. At best he­ might claim he only intended to stamp on his foot but­ at worst he was intending make sure the guy was left­ with a reminder that Nolan 'had been ere'.

    Its­ because the FA doesnt clamp down on that sort of­ mindless recklessness that Ronaldo keeps getting away­ with kicking out at opponents in retaliation. The­ tackle that broke Kieron Dyer's leg was a casual­ kick out after the same player had been blown for a­ foul on Dyer. Martin Taylor's tackle on Edouardo­ was an intentional foul after he had been beaten to the­ ball. Someone needs to draw the line.

    From Cyclone, on Mon 23 Feb 12:42PM

  3. That tackle by Nolan was really horrible. Nothing but­ luck has stopped Anichebe's leg breaking there. One­ of the worst tackles I've seen, but hey, he's a­ really honest guy so lets just forget about it.­ Pathetic

    From gough_79, on Mon 23 Feb 12:05PM

  4. No strikers. The playmaker out for the season.­ Don't you just love the way we do things at­ Everton. Probably win the FA cup just to annoy all the­ purists. Dogs of wer blues dogs of war.

    From John M, on Mon 23 Feb 11:44AM

  5. CHRIS B WEE IS A BODILY FLUID WOTS THE B FOR­ BORING
    "SO" THIS ONE BELONGS TO YOU YA HAGGIS­ WEE OFF!!!!!!!!!

    From BLUENOSE, on Mon 23 Feb 11:41AM

  6. it's 'Great wii player' not 'Great wee­ player'. He's particularly good at the wii­ tennis. Get well soon Mikey.

    From John, on Mon 23 Feb 11:41AM

  7. Arteta had a slow start? Wasnt his Freekick against­ Blackburn on the opening day of the season?!

    From andrewjonharrison, on Mon 23 Feb 11:39AM

  8. Enter Jack Rodwell to the rescue.just watch him go.

    From formby resident, on Mon 23 Feb 11:37AM

  9. Why pick on us .we don,t want this scum in the­ championship.

    From formby resident, on Mon 23 Feb 11:31AM

  10. Shame about Arteta, he has had a great season, despite­ a slow start.

    I think people should be less­ judgemental on Nolan. Look at his record - you cannot­ compare him to Barton. I remember the furore around­ Martin Taylor, totally unfair as he made a bad tackle,­ but he was also "not that kind of­ player".

    Nolan apologised, so let that be it.

    From SIMON, on Mon 23 Feb 11:29AM

  11. Fred West and the yorkshire ripper also said sorry. ­ absolute scum.

    From formby resident, on Mon 23 Feb 11:27AM

  12. A terrible tackle but why am I not surprised from a­ side who happily signed Joey Barton. Nolan should be­ given a hefty ban.

    Newcastle will hopefully be­ relegated, there are better footballing teams in the­ Championship.

    As for Artetta, he has developed into­ one of the best midfield players in the EPL and wil be­ missed but I wish him well and a speedy recovery.

    From Berkshiretrueblue, on Mon 23 Feb 11:20AM

  13. come on city,played well

    From Sue, on Mon 23 Feb 11:06AM

  14. It's "there's" which is short for­ "there is" and not "theirs" which­ means "belonging to them".

    They'll miss­ him alright. Great wee player.

    From chris b, on Mon 23 Feb 11:04AM

  15. THEIRS NOBODY BETTER THAN MIKEL ARTETA HES THE BEST­ LITTLE SPANIARD WE KNOW!!
    COYB

    From BLUENOSE, on Mon 23 Feb 10:59AM

  16. not very good. they need him to overtake arsenal

    From yip, on Mon 23 Feb 10:58AM
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