Arteta excited for final trip to Goodsion Park, says 'it's going to be very special'

IANS April 4, 2025 210 views

Mikel Arteta is set to make an emotional return to Goodison Park, the stadium where he spent six transformative years as a player. The Arsenal manager views this match as a special moment, reflecting on his personal history with Everton and the club's upcoming stadium transition. Arteta emphasizes the importance of staying focused on the current match, dismissing any potential distraction from the upcoming Champions League fixture. His connection to Everton, particularly under David Moyes' leadership, adds a layer of nostalgia to Saturday's encounter.

"It will be very special. There's a lot of history" - Mikel Arteta
London, April 4: Goodison Park is a ground that holds plenty of fond memories for Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, who spent six years with Everton between 2005 and 2011 during his playing days.

Key Points

1

Arteta returns to former club with deep emotional connection

2

Goodison Park hosting final match before stadium move

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Arsenal focusing solely on Everton encounter

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Moyes' successful Everton legacy remembered

During that period, David Moyes' Toffees finished as high as fourth in the Premier League, reached the last 16 of the UEFA Cup, and made it to the semi-finals of the League Cup.

On Saturday, the former Toffees club captain visits the 132-year-old stadium one last time, before Everton move to Bramley-Moore Dock next term.

"It will be very special. There's a lot of history as well between the clubs and I have my own personal story which was a beautiful one, with the manager that has just come back now and he's doing extremely well.

"I'm so happy for the club and for David because it's never easy to come back there for the second time. In my opinion, he was the person who lifted that club to a different level and now he's on the journey to do it again once they move to a new stadium, so I think it's a really nice story," said Arteta in his pre-match conference.

Everton were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Wednesday, but have generally become harder to beat since Moyes returned to the helm. Arteta feels the Gunners will impose ourselves on the game to combat the approach the Toffees take on Saturday.

"Exactly, I think that's the word because they want to play a very different game from ours. That's the challenge every time in the Premier League, how you take the game where you want and how you make that happen as often as you possibly can. Then it will be decided in the boxes, where you have to be really strong," he said.

When asked if the Champions League quarter-final first leg at home to Real Madrid on the horizon has any impact on the weekend's encounter, Arteta said there's no room for complacency by having focus elsewhere.

"No, that's wrong. The biggest game for us is Everton, and the best way to prepare for Real Madrid is to do what we have to do to beat Everton.

"Because this is football, it's an emotional game and you have to continuously do what you have to do, and you cannot be thinking ahead - the competition, the level, how the teams are prepared, is too big to think that way. You cannot allow yourself to think that way," he added.

Reader Comments

J
Jamie T.
Love seeing Arteta show respect to his former club. Class act! Hope we get the win but Everton will make it tough under Moyes. COYG 🔴⚪
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Sarah L.
As an Everton fan, I appreciate Arteta's words about our club. He was one of my favorite players during his time here. Will be bittersweet seeing him manage against us at Goodison one last time.
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Marcus P.
Respectfully, I think Arteta is focusing too much on sentimentality here. Arsenal need to be ruthless if they want to win the title. No room for nostalgia in a title race!
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Emma K.
The way Arteta talks about football is just different. You can tell he really understands the emotional side of the game while still being professional. Makes me proud to be a Gooner 💪
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Derek B.
Goodison Park is such a special ground. Will miss the atmosphere there when Everton move. Hope they give it a proper send-off (after we beat them of course 😉)

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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