ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Arteta for England?

Anyone know if Arteta has been capped at ALL for Spain, incl under-21 caps? And if so does this mean he cannot play for any other nationality.

Only reason why I'm asking is that once he's played here for 4 consecutive seasons he's eligble to play for England. It worked for Portugal and Deco!

[Probably a bit of a non-entity/mad post; but having seen some of the posts on transfers and the stadium debate I thought I'd throw this one in the hat!]
Carl Wright, Liverpool Posted 21/08/2007 at 11:53:29

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Dan Mckie
1 Posted 21/08/2007 at 13:07:48

I think you have to have played a competative full international before you are ineligable to play for another country which I dont think Arteta has which is unbelievable! Dont think he would play for England tho cos he does seem very patriotic!

Seamus Murphy
2 Posted 21/08/2007 at 13:13:27

He has played for the Spain under 21’s so i think that would rule that out. Agree with Dan though, dont see him as the type who would do that.
He WILL get into the Spanish team eventually - once we are back in Europe and having a good season with him pulling all the strings, it will be impossible to keep ignoring him.

Peter Howard
3 Posted 21/08/2007 at 13:28:35

Christ! he ain’t that good!You couldn’t have been at Reading or at least a dozen away games last season!

Seamus Murphy
4 Posted 21/08/2007 at 13:35:07

Are you for real Peter!! Let me throw a couple of Midfielder names at you from the England Squad:
Gareth Barry
Stuart Downing
Kieron Dyer
Michael Carrick

You are having a laugh!! Would you swap Arteta for any of those??
I seriously doubt it!!

Dan Mckie
5 Posted 21/08/2007 at 13:48:06

Arteta would walk into the England squad and most probably the first 11.

Dan Rivers
6 Posted 21/08/2007 at 14:25:39

Obviously Peters a redshite trying to get us going, dont fall into his trap, hes just jelious!

David Chait
7 Posted 21/08/2007 at 14:29:38

I was just wondering this last week when he was left out the Spain squad.... He WOULD walk into the England squad.

It seems though U21 makes it tricky for him but not sure the details.

Brett Bradshaw
8 Posted 21/08/2007 at 14:50:20

That would be nice!

We could get Carlo Cudicini in while we are at it!

Brett

Mike Hunt
9 Posted 21/08/2007 at 14:55:00

If he fancied it, I think the left side of England’s midfield would be his for at least three major championships, but it ain’t gonna happen...thankfully: Mikel threading balls through for Rooney, too much of a tease.

Steve Ferns
10 Posted 21/08/2007 at 15:03:26

Oh crap, Sky sports has johnson as "injured" for england. I hope he’s not out of the blackburn game or we really are in for a goal drought

Seamus Murphy
11 Posted 21/08/2007 at 15:05:27

Yeah just read that on Teamtalk Steve.
Hopefully it is just a precaution

Steve Ferns
12 Posted 21/08/2007 at 15:11:49

I suppose he’d never have joined the team if he was a doubt for Blackburn. It must be to give him rest. Fingers crossed.

Dan Mckie
13 Posted 21/08/2007 at 15:17:39

Yeah,he only has fluid in his knee so as long as he rushes back,gets it drained then does sod-all for the next day or 2 then he will be alright for the Blackburn game!

Scott Milne
14 Posted 21/08/2007 at 15:50:22

Arteta’s well past the deciding age to select which country to play for if you’ve got a choice - just happened with James Morrison deciding to play for Scotland, just getting clearance, then getting injured anyways...

Mikel’s Basque as well, meaning he’s even more vicously patriotic than your average Spaniard...

Steve Ferns
15 Posted 21/08/2007 at 23:15:57

Basques are not patriotic towards Spain. Its a bit like a catholic playing for Northern Ireland.

That said Spuddy does seem desperate to pull on the red shirt.

Do the Basque’s still have their own national team (other than Bilbao)?

Steve Ferns
16 Posted 21/08/2007 at 23:23:20

Basques, wiki info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_Country_%28autonomous_community%29