Mikel Arteta: Is His Departure a Sign of Everton in Rebuild Mode?

Mikel Arteta has been a big figure at Everton FC since 2005. During his time here, the club has seen some of their best play in a decade.

What does his departure mean for the direction of the club?

Arteta left for a chance at Champions League football—even if it may only be for this one season, but don’t tell him that. He is going to enter the group stages with the Gunners and be looked to carry much of their offensive movement along with Jack Wilshere.

This move is a great opportunity for the Spaniard who has worked his arse off for Everton. It is sad to see him go, but that is the reality of football.

This transfer window saw Everton lose Yakubu, Jermaine Beckford (after only one season) and Mikel Arteta. Beckford and Arteta were thought to be two big pieces for the Blues in this campaign.

So with the departure of Arteta and others, is Everton in rebuilding mode? The answer is simply yes, but it comes with a dark shadow that has fans wondering if we will ever have the means to.

Finances

After it came out that the bank told Bill Kenwright that Everton would no longer be loaned any money, it is tough to see Everton doing more than they have recently.

Keep in mind, "recently" means making cup runs and finishing near or in a European spot. As long as David Moyes is managing the club, he will continue to usher in academy players and pull magic out of his hat as he has done time and time again.

Moyes and his staff are amazing scouts for talent. They have brought in and made many players into household names. If Everton is to rebuild, they need for Moyes to hold his position for as long as possible.

The lack of finances also hurts the club by not allowing them to update Goodison Park or even look into building a new stadium.

Without a new one, the club is going to be a really tough sell because any potential buyer knows that they come in having to make more than just the investment to fund transfer moves, but they will have to fund the construction of a new stadium too.

Players

The core of Everton FC talent has been able to be retained. Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar have both left the club recently, but this does not mean that Everton has lost all of their talent.

The club retains Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Marouane Fellaini and Jack Rodwell who had all been rumoured with moves away from the blue side of Merseyside.

This is a good sign because there is still spirit and belief within the team.

Moyes made two acquisitions in the transfer window: one a striker and one a winger.

Both players are unproven in the Premier League, but Denis Stracqualursi and Royston Drenthe both look like ideal loans for the club on paper.

Both have personal accolades and have expressed their desire to succeed in England and prove they can do well for Everton.

This is a good sign that Everton were able to bring players in even if they were not on permanent contracts.

The loan moves showed that even if the bank is unwilling to give the money to help strengthen the squad, the Gaffer will not.

Mikel Transfer Fee

David Moyes will be given some of Mikel Arteta’s ₤10 million transfer fee in January to focus on a midfielder and a striker.

In recent times, it has been a policy that Everton must sell to buy and this has not always been a bad thing in the past.

Joleon Lescott left to go to Manchester City and Everton were able to obtain the services of Sylvain Distin, Johnny Heitinga and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

All three players have played a big part in Everton’s recent successes—although to varying degrees.

Moyes knows the kind of talent that needs to be brought to the club and he will not bring any players in who cannot shake it at Goodison.

Conclusion

While things seem grim at Everton FC with the departure of Mikel Arteta, it is not a sign that the team is headed in the wrong direction.

Everton are a club built off of a certain feeling. The unity and faith mustered in the dressing room is what keeps them moving forward.

So while things certainly look bleak, one must ask, “What is so different now than in years past?”

The financial troubles have been there for a long time. Now it has been made public, but they have always been there.

We have never been able to hold onto everyone but where a Mikel Arteta leaves, we have a Ross Barkley and Jack Rodwell to step into the squad.

There is a definite sense of rebuilding around Everton FC, but the shadow that hangs over it right now is a figment created by the panic of others.

Everton supporters must not lose faith in the club or in David Moyes.

While the turmoil is hanging around and there is no end in sight, the club and its supporters must march on because “We only know that there gonna be a show when the Everton boys are there.”