Mikel Arteta's Magnificent Free Kick Gives Arsenal Champions League Boost

Mikel Arteta sealed a 3-0 win over Aston Villa by thundering in a superb free kick from over 30 yards. The win puts Arsenal in a great position to achieve automatic qualification for next season's Uefa Champions League.

The increasingly impressive Gunners are now three points ahead of North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and eight points ahead of fifth place Chelsea.

Arsene Wenger has engineered a truly remarkable turnaround and Arteta has been significant. The classy playmaker has been, by far, Arsenal's best signing of the season and this free kick emphasized his considerable quality.

The strike was typical of everything Arteta has brought to Arsenal. It was precise, efficient and technically sound. Arteta's set piece expertise was well known and respected when he starred for Everton, but Gunners fans had not experienced it until now.

Approaching the ball from the left side of the box, Arteta perfectly connected straight on with the underside of the ball. The shot arced over the wall and arrowed into the right hand side of the net.

This author has called for Arteta to achieve international recognition before and his assured performances, matched with goals of this caliber should certainly put him in the reckoning now.

Yes, he faces strong competition from a variety of skillful, central schemers. However, to rule him out on this basis ignores Arteta's own talent and his vital contribution to Arsenal's game.

He has made Wenger's team more composed and measured and his sure distribution and clever movement has improved the flow and fluidity of their passing.

That kind of influence deserves its reward on the international stage.