Arteta: Fans are great
Mikel Arteta has singled out the Everton fans as the reason for his return to Goodison.
Mikel Arteta finally found time to reveal his desperation to play for Everton, after a summer of frustration threatened to block his return to The Toffees.
Arteta had to drop his wage demands and then wait for Real Sociedad to drop their transfer valuation, but now he is finally set to become an Everton player and is looking forward to the forthcoming season.
"I have signed for five years here and I want to help this team to grow, work very hard and do something very, very good next season," said Arteta.
"We have got a very long season ahead and a very important one. I want to start working hard for the team.
"Manchester United on the first day of the season is an extra motivation for us. The atmosphere is going to be unbelievable."
Arteta admits that the Everton fans were a big factor in his decision to come back to Goodison Park, after he starred during a loan spell last season.
"I was very surprised by the club, the people and the fans when I came here. What we did last season was so very important for everybody. I was so happy and felt so close to the club.
"I was very surprised that the fans were trying to make me feel like an Everton player and an important player very quickly. I much appreciated that from the first minute.
"That was important for me and something I have been thinking about over the summer because that means a lot to a player.
"It was a nice feeling and that was why I was sure we were going to find a solution over the summer. Now I am very happy."
Meanwhile, Everton boss David Moyes has assured James McFadden that he does have a future at the club.
The Merseysiders are preparing for a friendly against Motherwell on Saturday amidst speculation that McFadden could be on his way to either Celtic or Rangers.
However, Moyes has rubbished such talk: "James is not a player we are interested in losing," fired the Scot.
"He has terrific ability. He knows and we know that we just need it to come to the fore more regularly."
Everton are preparing for their first season in the UEFA Champions League, and chief executive Keith Wyness believes their tour to the Far East - beginning on Sunday - will provide good experience of what is to come.
"The flying, the hotels, the organisation. The whole experience will give us a good idea of what it will be like when we start playing in the UEFA Champions League," said Wyness.
