Arteta has scored two goals in three matches so far this season
Arsenal have signed Everton's Mikel Arteta for about £10m after the midfielder submitted a transfer request to force through the move.
The Spanish midfielder joined the Gunners on a four-year deal just before the 2300 BST deadline.
The deal had looked dead earlier after talks between the two clubs broke down but Arteta handed in the transfer request an hour before the deadline.
Arsenal also signed Chelsea's Yossi Benayoun, 31, on a season-long loan.
Benayoun, the Israel captain, wrote on social networking site Twitter, said: "I sign with Arsenal, very happy and excited about it, but now my head is only in the game against grecce on Friday, thanks for the support."
Both clubs later confirmed the deal had gone through.
Chelsea offered Liverpool £8m plus Benayoun for Reds midfielder Raul Meireles on Tuesday, but that deal was rejected.
He joined Blues from Liverpool for £5m in July 2010 but was restricted to 10 appearances last season because of an Achilles injury and has seen only one minute of action this time round.
- Mikel Arteta (Everton)
- Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea)
- Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
- Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
- Eden Hazard (Lille)
- Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow)
It had been rumoured Benayoun would be included in an offer from Chelsea for Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric.
Newcastle had also been linked with the Israeli.
Arteta joined Everton from Real Socieded for £2m in 2005 and has scored 35 goals in 208 appearances.
He started his career with Barcelona before spells with Paris Saint-Germain FC and Rangers.
The Spaniard suffered a knee ligament injury in February 2009 and was sidelined for almost a year, and signed a new five-year deal in August 2010.
Arteta was just regaining his top form when a hamstring tear against Birmingham in February hampered his progress. But he was back before the end of the campaign and could reflect on vital goals against Man United and Liverpool amongst his season highlights.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown told BBC Sport that both Arteta and Benayoun would be "solid signings".
But when asked if they would be adequate replacements for the departed Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, Keown added: "No they're not, it's very hard to replace those players.
"I think back to the [Dennis] Bergkamp era, the impetus those players brought. Arteta is a great passer, Benayoun is not getting into Chelsea team. It's a mixed bag for Arsenal fans."
Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner completed a move away from Emirates Stadium just before the window closed, joining Sunderland on a season-long loan.
0 comments:
Post a Comment