He Might Be Spanish, But Mikel Arteta Could Be The Answer For England

Mikel Arteta was born in Spain to Spanish parents, and has lived there the majority of his life, but the Everton midfielder is also eligible for England and there are growing calls for an approach from the FA for his services.

Arteta qualifies through FIFA's five-year residency rule, and having committed himself to another long-term contract at Goodison Park it appears the two-time Everton Player of the Year is more than happy with life in England.

The 28-year-old Arteta represented Spain at youth level, but has never been selected for the senior squad - the unfortunate by-product of being born into a golden generation of Spanish midfield talent.

While childhood friend Xabi Alonso rose through the ranks to join Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Co. on their march to global domination, Arteta became the forgotten man. And when he came closest to breaking into the squad, during Euro 2008 qualifying, injury intervened.

Did they miss him? Consecutive major trophies would suggest not, and Arteta's lingering hopes of a Spain call-up are surely dead in the water after their World Cup triumph in South Africa. But that doesn't have to mean an end to his international ambition.

While FIFA's residency rule remains an untapped source by England, it is being fully utilized by most of the major footballing nations, and has been for some time. Take Brazilian Eduardo for example, who took up the offer to represent Croatia after playing in their national league. Deco took a similar path with Portugal, and several members of Germany's World Cup squad qualified through citizenship rules.

Not that it doesn't sometimes provoke controversy. Take Italy's recent decision to select 30-year-old Brazilian Amauri for a friendly match against the Ivory Coast, which has sparked a nationwide debate.

So are England fans, and the FA for the matter, ready to grasp the nettle to keep up with the Joneses? A woeful World Cup and an increasing sense of desperate would suggest it's a genuine possibility - and England captain Steven Gerrard is all for it.

"I'd certainly love nothing better than to see Mikel Arteta available for England," he told TalkSport radio.

"You want to play with the best players, and if it makes the England squad better, of course I'd like to see it.

"I think it happens to most national teams [that they pick non-nationals], but it's up to him if he wants to make himself available."

I have to say I agree with him. Arteta is exactly the brand of ball-playing midfielder England so clearly lacked at the World Cup, and would unquestionably strengthen Fabio Capello's hand.

But it says a lot about the state of English football that a man who is yet to make a Spanish squad is being tipped as a possible king pin in Fabio Capello's midfield.