Mikel Arteta set to revisit his past with trip to Everton

Arsenal travel to face Everton on Saturday afternoon for a game that will see Mikel Arteta revisit his past.

The Gunners boss will be reunited with his former Toffees manager David Moyes, who retook the reins at Goodison Park upon Sean Dyche's dismissal in January. The pair have met on the touchline a number of times before but this game will offer something different for Arteta.

With this being Arsenal's final ever trip to Goodison Park, they will be looking for a win but as it's a glimpse into the past for Mikel Arteta, he will have some sentiment for this last visit.

Mikel Arteta set to revisit his past with trip to Everton

Mikel Arteta has managed Arsenal against Everton ten times and overseen five victories. This won't be the Spaniard's first visit back to Goodison Park, with four of those games coming on Merseyside and only one ending in a win.

Despite a number of previous visits, this specific trip will be a real venture back into his past. It will be the first time he takes on David Moyes since the Scot returned to manage Everton for a second stint, a matchup that very much represents 'friends to foes'.

Moyes was the man who brought Arteta to English football with an initial loan move from Real Sociedad in 2005 before the deal was made permanent. Arteta's entire six-year stay at Everton came under the stewardship of Moyes.

In total, Arteta made 209 appearances under Moyes, scoring and assisting 35 goals each, while also being named the club's Player of the Season on two occasions.

Arteta left Moyes and Everton in 2011 to join Arsenal, where he went on to be named club captain and win two FA Cups before returning as manager in 2019.

"“[He's] a really good coach, exceptional at managing the group and dealing with individuals, and he's a very special person, very trustworthy, and a man who honours his word. He always did it and he's someone I learnt a lot from. "

Arteta on Moyes

A lot of Arteta's managerial experience came while working alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and while playing under Arsene Wenger in north London. However, there's no denying that David Moyes has also shaped his outlook on the game, as well as his managerial style.

The Gunners boss has always maintained respect for Moyes when coming up against him previously but to be facing off with him in charge of his old side in Arsenal's final ever visit to Goodison Park will be of sentiment to Arteta and offer him a real chance to revisit his past.

Mikel Arteta vs David Moyes head-to-head record

Since first becoming Arsenal manager in 2019, Mikel Arteta has met David Moyes on the touchline ten times, all coming during the latter's time with West Ham.

The Spaniard has enjoyed much success against his former coach, winning six of these encounters and losing just two.

The last meeting between the two managers came in February 2024 at the London Stadium. Arsenal romped to a 6-0 victory to avenge the 2-0 defeat they suffered to West Ham at Emirates Stadium earlier in the season.

While Arteta will be looking forward to meeting his former boss for the first time in more than a year, he will no doubt be wanting to continue the good record he holds over Moyes. Everton have enjoyed a decent start to life under the Scotsman so they will also be wanting to get a good result against the Gunners.

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