Arteta reveals medical risk

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has revealed he signed with the London club without undergoing a medical.

The Spaniard joined from Everton late on deadline day, meaning there was not time for proper procedural checks, with the player telling the Gunners that if any medical problem was found after he signed he would be personally responsible for it.

“It was very stressful. At 6pm, they said everything had broken down. Then, at 8:30pm, everything started again,” Arteta told The Mirror.

“But there wasn’t time to have a medical. I went to the offices of the club (Everton) and from there I told Arsenal to trust me and that if some medical problem was found it would be my responsibility.”

Arteta has undergone stomach and knee surgeries in recent seasons, but his main hope this term is not only to stay healthy, but to help the Gunners get back to winning ways after a poor start.

“It’s obvious that the club is having a phase of one or two months of difficulties and there have been a lot of people disappointed,” he said.

“But we’ll come out of this. We’ll compete for everything. It’s down to us to give the fans reasons to get back to being excited.”

The 29-year-old also addressed comparisons between him and the player he was brought in to replace, Cesc Fabregas.

“I am not here to replace Cesc. If I try to do that, it will turn out badly,” Arteta said. “I’ve been here for three weeks and he was here seven years.”

“I have a personality which is definitely different to his. I would be making a mistake if I was trying to be the same or even better than him.”

“I have to find my own way. My own style. Cesc was the best player of Arsenal and one of the three best players in the Premier League.”

“My aim is only to try to give my maximum level as a player and help the team as much as I can.”