Arteta says he 'looks up' to Moyes ahead of Everton clash
Mikel Arteta has made clear the respect he holds for David Moyes, crediting the Everton boss as someone the entire footballing world should look up to ahead of Arsenal's trip to Goodison Park.
The relationship between the two men stretches back to Arteta's playing days. Moyes signed the Spaniard for Everton, giving him the platform to establish himself in the Premier League before he moved on to join Arsenal under Arsene Wenger. That spell in north London shaped the experience Arteta would later draw on when he swapped the pitch for the dugout.
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Now the pair meet again, this time as opposing managers. Arteta currently leads Arsenal, while Moyes continues to coach at Everton, the club where their working relationship first began.
Arteta on 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 football, touching on the personal bond the two have built over the years.
“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.”
The comments reflect the lasting impression Moyes made on Arteta during their time together at Everton. Despite now sitting in opposing dugouts, Arteta has not shied away from acknowledging the role his former manager played in his development as both a player and, eventually, a coach.
A test for Arsenal at Goodison Park
Moyes has built a reputation over the years for his longevity in English football, having managed at the top level across multiple decades. Arteta's praise comes with the recognition that Everton, under their experienced manager, will provide a stern challenge regardless of the sentiment surrounding the fixture.
Arsenal will be looking to secure three points against a side that has often proven difficult to break down under Moyes' guidance. The mutual respect between the two managers is unlikely to soften the competitive edge once the match gets underway, with both sides needing the result for their own reasons this weekend.
The fixture offers another chapter in a relationship that began on the training pitches of Everton years ago, with Arteta now hoping to come out on top against the man who first gave him his chance in English football.
