Everton manager David Moyes has hailed the maturity of former player Mikel Arteta ahead of their clash with Arsenal at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
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It was Moyes who brought Arteta to Everton from Real Sociedad in 2005. The Spanish playmaker served the Toffes with aplomb during a six-year-stint before Arsene Wenger recruited him to the Gunners in 2011.
The 30-year-old has since become an integral part of Wenger's side and Moyes is not surprised.
"He is a very gifted footballer, he is a great lad to work with," said the Scottish tactician.
"I think the manager (Wenger) was probably surprised what he offers. He is a great professional, a really good footballer and I'll be delighted to see him back - just disappointed it is in an Arsenal jersey.
"I see Mikel now and when they are having a bit of a huddle he is the one who is the leader and I think they look to him, he has taken on a lot of the leadership qualities in that side.
"He was part of the rebuilding process that had to take place at Everton when we tried to develop the team and move it on.
"We took Mikel on loan from Real Sociedad after he'd been at Rangers and it hadn't quite worked for him.
"We were a bit unsure when he first came here. He was a bit lightweight to play in the middle and so we played him off to the side and he was great there for us, he really was.
"Eventually he moved on to be a real key figure in that period and was a big part of us developing and moving Everton forward."
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