Arsenal playmaker Mikel Arteta is refusing to give up on his dream of earning international recognition with Spain.
Gunners playmaker refusing to give up on international ambitions
Arsenal playmaker Mikel Arteta is refusing to give up on his dream of earning international recognition with Spain.
The 29-year-old is considered by many to be unfortunate not to have already been handed a senior cap by his country.
The wealth of talent at Spain's disposal has worked against him, with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andres Iniesta providing his direct competition.
Arteta, who was once touted as a possible candidate to represent England, will not be giving up on his efforts to win a call-up, though, with it his intention to grace the very top of the game.
"My ambition is to win as many trophies as I can and to have the chance of playing for the national team one day," he told
Arsenal Player.
Consistency
Arteta, who was born in San Sebastian, had considered playing for England after earning British citizenship during his time at Everton, but a FIFA bylaw ended any chance he had of representing the Three Lions after it emerged that he had turned out for Spain at the U16 and U17 World Championships when he did not have a British passport.
The former Rangers midfielder, who started his career at Barcelona, admits he faces a tough task breaking in to Vicente del Bosque's squad, with Xavi being the player he admires most in the current Spanish set-up.
"I have always been a big fan of Xavi," added Arteta.
"I played and trained with him when I was young. For me consistency is a big thing and he gets rated either eight out of 10 or nine out of 10 every time he plays and he plays 60 or 70 times a year. He is a top, top player for me."
