Everton manager David Moyes believes Mikel Arteta is well suited to life at Arsenal, and has been impressed with his former player’s performances this season.

The Spanish midfielder left Everton for The Emirates on transfer deadline day for a fee of £10 million, signing a four-year deal.

On Saturday, Arteta will face his former club for the first time, when Everton travel to north London, and Moyes will be wary of his threat.

“I’ve watched from the television, I’ve not seen him play live. But from what I have seen Mikel has played well,” Moyes told Sky Sports News.

“He played great for us and it looks as if he’s giving a good contribution at Arsenal.

“I think the style suits Mikel. He’s on the ball plenty of times, getting lots of touches and he’s having an influence on the game. From that point of view, he’ll be revelling in the job he’s got and what he’s doing at Arsenal.”

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal captain Robin van Persie could follow in Thierry Henry's footsteps and be immortalised with a bronze statue outside Emirates Stadium in the future.

The Gunners' record goalscorer was one of three club legends to be honoured as part of their 125th anniversary celebrations, with former manager Herbert Chapman and also captain Tony Adams, who led Wenger's men to the Double twice, each receiving a similar tribute, which were unveiled yesterday ahead of Saturday afternoon's Premier League game with Everton.

Current skipper van Persie is already in many fans' all-time top Arsenal XI, with the red hot Dutchman having smashed through 30 goals for 2011.
On the way

Wenger feels if the 28-year-old continues to lead by example, then he too can take his rightful place alongside Henry in Arsenal folklore.

"Robin is on the way," the Gunners boss said. "It was the club's choice and I had the privilege to manage two of the players who were unveiled - hopefully there will be some more."

Henry had paid an emotional tribute to Arsenal and his former team-mates after being left "speechless" when seeing the statue kneeling in celebration towards the Emirates Stadium main stand, with Highbury in the distance.

The 34-year-old - who left for Barcelona in June 2007, where the Frenchman would go on to lift the Champions League before moving to the Major Soccer League in the United States with New York Red Bulls - played alongside van Persie, when the striker was then very much a raw talent after arriving as a 21-year-old from Feyenoord in 2004.

Henry feels the striker, a World Cup finalist with Holland last summer, is showing his true class following an injury-free spell.

"I saw him come in here and at the very beginning he wasn't the easiest guy to deal with, like I wasn't I guess, but it's amazing to see how he has improved. That tells you how intelligent a player he is," said Henry, who trained with Arsenal as the MLS season closed.

"I am just in admiration. What he is doing right now, thank God he is playing for us and doing well."
Amazing

Henry - who netted 226 goals as the Gunners won two Premier League titles and the FA Cup twice - continued: "It is nice to see a player improve, and Robin is doing something amazing.

"That also tells you how important it is for him to not get injured.

"He has never had a chance to have a full season since he has been here - he was always out for two or three months.

"For the very first time he can go on a roll now and you can see the difference. I can only admire what he's doing now."

Wenger has seen his defence frequently criticised this season despite signing Per Mertesacker, but despite question-marks about the performances of players like Sebastien Squillaci and Johan Djourou, the Frenchman has ruled out any moves for a central defender in January.

Alex has been told he can leave Stamford Bridge in the winter window, and Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has already declared his interest in the Brazilian. But Wenger was quick to quash any speculation linking Arsenal with a bid.

"We will not be on the market for any centre-back, I can assure you,” Wenger said on SkySports.

Wenger signed German international Mertesacker and Brazilian Andre Santos in the summer to boost his defensive options, but injuries to Kieran Gibbs, Bacary Sagna, Carl Jenkinson and now Santos have left the club exposed in the full-back positions - something former Werder Bremen centre-back Mertesacker would like to see addressed in January.

"We need more full-backs I think! It's not good for the squad if so many full-backs are injured, but what can I say?

"We have to manage the situation. We have had some bad situations with injuries in the last month but we managed quite well.

"We are looking forward to climbing the league more and more. We have had a lot of pressure to get to fifth in the last month but we need more consistency, in December more than ever.

"Therefore I hope we can pick up a lot of points to get to the top four. We want more than that, of course."

The Gunners' full-back problems have seen centre-half Laurent Koscielny fill in at right-back, while another centre-half, Thomas Vermaelen, looks set to cover at left-back until Gibbs or Santos is fit to return.

Referee Howard Webb will use a special sixpence for the coin-toss at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday in one part of a number of weird and wonderful celebrations to mark Arsenal's 125th anniversary.



The Gunners take on Everton and the club has planned an afternoon of action in order to mark the event.

Prior to kick-off, two great grandchildren of David Danskin, Arsenal's founding father, will hand the Premier League match ball to Webb, who will then meet with the two captains and decide who gets the match underway by tossing the coin.

Its relevance stems back to the founding team members from the Dial Square armaments factory in Woolwich, who all gave a sixpence piece in order to buy a football.

Furthermore, 90 minutes before kick-off fans outside the stadium will be able to listen to the Royal Artillery and Orchestra, while the Nike 125 Project will be unveiled 15 minutes later.

As part of the Nike initiative, benches and plaques featuring fans' stories from around the globe will be revealed, with manager Arsene Wenger and midfielder Jack Wilshere having also contributed.

The live music will then move inside the stadium, while a host of club legends will be presented to the crowd before a guard of honour is formed along with fans and 20 Junior Gunners.

On the pitch Arsenal could go fourth and into the Champions League qualification spots with a victory over Everton, who are currently in tenth position.