Arteta claims Moyes is a man 'we all look up to' before Everton clash
Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on David Moyes ahead of Arsenal's trip to face Everton, declaring that the Scottish manager is someone the entire game looks up to.
Moyes gave Arteta his first taste of Premier League football by signing him for Everton, a move that helped shape the Spaniard into the midfielder who would later join Arsenal under Arsene Wenger. That spell in north London played a significant role in Arteta's development before he transitioned into coaching, a journey that has now led him back to management at the Emirates.
The Friday Injury Tracker
Who's out, who's back and what it means for the next two games.
With Moyes still in charge at Goodison Park, the two men will once again find themselves on opposite touchlines when Arsenal travel to face Everton.
Arteta on Moyes: 'I know the man behind the coach'
Speaking via Arsenal Media, Arteta was asked whether Moyes could be considered the king of the Premier League. His response went beyond simple flattery, touching on both the professional and personal respect he holds for his former manager.
“100%; I don’t know if it’s the king or what it is, but he’s certainly someone that I think we all look up to,” Arteta said. “Not only for his longevity, but I think what he represents for the game, what he represents for the Premier League, and his trajectory. For me especially, because I know the man behind the coach, which is the most important thing, and then I really know as well the coach, and he’s a superb coach.”
It's a notable endorsement from a manager who has himself become one of the most scrutinised figures in the Premier League. Arteta's reference to knowing “the man behind the coach” points to a relationship that dates back well over a decade, long before either man had managed a top flight side.
Two different paths, one lasting respect
Moyes has remained a fixture in English football management for over two decades, while Arteta has gone from Wenger's midfield lieutenant to one of the league's leading young coaches. Wenger himself has since stepped away from the dugout entirely, leaving Moyes as the link between Arteta's playing days and his current role.
Arteta's comments suggest that despite now competing against Moyes rather than learning under him, the admiration built during his time at Everton has not faded. The upcoming fixture gives both men another chance to test themselves against one another, with Arsenal looking to come away with the three points against a side that has long had a reputation for being difficult to break down under Moyes' guidance.
Arsenal will be hoping the mutual respect between the two managers translates into a professional, hard fought contest when the sides meet.
