Arteta has learnt from a number of world-class managers, including Pep Guardiola and Alex McLeish early in his career. The Spaniard has transitioned from being a player to coaching with ease in recent years, and he puts his career so far down to one man.
Moyes was the manager who took a chance on Arteta when he ended up back home in the Basque Country at Real Sociedad. He admitted Arteta was shy and maybe not ready for the Premier League before giving him a spot in the first team.
“He was a quiet boy and at the start we had to play him off the right of midfield,” he recalls. “I was thinking: ‘This is a young Spanish boy who might not be ready for the rigours of the Premier League and Goodison Park, for what is expected.’”
Arteta helped Everton finish fourth and secure Champions League qualification, and played over 200 times for the Toffees as he established himself as a club icon.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Arteta thanked Moyes and praised him for helping boost his failing career.
“He picked me up when I had a difficult moment in my career.
“Someone that I loved, and I learned (from) and I appreciate a lot what he did for me, he is a really special person.”
Arteta has taken home two FA Cups with the Gunners since taking up coaching and is now pursuing the Premier League title once again as his side leads at the top of the table.
For all his roots at the Barça academy and working under Guardiola at City, it was Moyes who helped Arteta back on track and if it wasn’t for him Arsenal would not have a manager who is a cut above the rest.