Our brilliant little Basque has admitted that he has become frustrated at not being able to break into the Spanish squad but has insisted that this is nothing to do with the fact that he plays for Everton.
Arteta was reported to have said that he would need to move away from Everton in order to force his way into the Spanish squad.
But he refutes these claims, saying: "I wasn't happy with that, very angry because I did not say it. I want to stay here, I had the chance in the summer to leave, but I am more than pleased to be here.”
He added: "If I cannot get into the Spanish squad it is because there are better players than me, or the manager likes other players, but never because I am here playing for Everton.”
So it would appear that the selection policy of the Spanish national side is not the same as that adopted by the pre-McLaren
But this won't be the last we will hear of this story and rumours will no doubt be rife over the next couple of months as he is spotted at a host of other grounds signing autographs and stuff.
And you just know that someone in the ale house will be embroiled in a conversation that starts something like this: “And, my mate who knows someone at the club, a reliable source like, said that Arteta was in La Tasca with Benitez last week…”
And I bet they were eating tapas, drinking Rioja and talking about bull fighting too!