Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Art recalls agony of Toon visit
MIKEL ARTETA’s mind flashes back to the worst day of his footballing life as he prepares Arsenal to face Newcastle United on the anniversary of the horror injury he suffered against the Toon Army.
The Spaniard was in Everton blue when he collapsed with severe cruciate ligament damage at St James’ Park in February 2009.
He was out of action for 11 months and there were genuine fears he would never play again when a bacterial infection caused his knee to swell to the size of a watermelon.
Now 37 and trying to avoid 10th-placed Arsenal finishing outside the top six for the first time in 25 years, Arteta says those life lessons have made him a better person and boss.
He conceded it was the worst day of his career, but explained: “It was one of the toughest parts of my professional career, but the one I learned most from.
“I took a lot from that – it was a big challenge. At some stages, I thought it was going to be over when I had an infection and they didn’t know what it was and it was looking bad.
“It took me almost a year to get back to playing. After I recovered my form, I started to perform well and I joined Arsenal.
“I think it was a good thing. At the time, I could not see it, but it was a very challenging time in my career that I had to go over. I had to rebuild myself to do that.”
Arteta’s physical and emotional battle is aiding his ability to look after his current crop of crocks including defender Calum Chambers, out for the season with cruciate damage too.
Arteta added: “Now when I see Calum and what he’s going through I know exactly how tough the first four or five weeks are on that injury and how the process is afterwards.”