I was teammates with Mikel Arteta - it was obvious the Arsenal head coach would succeed

Former Everton goalkeeper and ex-Mikel Arteta teammate, Tim Howard, has revealed a fascinating insight in the Spaniard's playing days at Goodison Park to now being head coach at Arsenal.

While playing for Everton, Howard witnessed first-hand the intensity in Arteta, hinting at his potential to thrive in top-level management. In an insightful piece for The Daily Mail, Howard notes the contrast in Arteta's demeanour before and during interviews, saying: "I have interviewed him a few times as a manager and every time, before the cameras start rolling, it has just been like the old days; he calls me Timmy, there's a lot of smiling and giggling.

"It's all very casual. It's the Mikel I shared a dressing room with."

But as soon as the interview kicks-off, Howard outlines Arteta's transformation: "But then the interview starts, he goes into game-mode - and he has to be the person that he wants to portray. That's not my friend. That Mikel the manager. He has changed."

Recalling their time under David Moyes, Howard reminisces: "When I first got to Everton, he was one of Moyes' Crown Jewels. He was far and away our best footballer. He was a really good guy and a really engaging guy. But Mikel was always somebody who took football very, very seriously. There was never an off day."

Howard added: "He was meticulous in the dressing room, in the canteen, and on the bus. He was always studying film or talking tactics. He was someone to look up to, to mirror your lifestyle on."

The American shot-stopper also noted that while Arteta was seen as a 'teacher's pet' he was still very much 'one of the boys'. However, now as Arsenal's manager, Arteta seems to have crafted a more reserved public persona, which Howard views as beneficial for both him and the club.

"Mikel is different now," he observed, "He has changed... but I think in a very good way. As a manager, you have to figure out what your voice is going to be and how you want to project yourself. These days, he's quite closed off and he doesn't give away a lot of secrets. That's not a surprise - he's been schooled under Pep at Manchester City."

Howard also sees traces of Moyes' influence in Arteta - combining tactical acumen with his toughened approach. "When you look at who he's become as a manager, he absolutely has a sprinkle of Moyes, too. Mikel had the guile, the tactical awareness and the magical feet. But David and his teams always had a steeliness - and he turned Mikel into a hard-nosed midfielder."

Arteta's road to management in the Premier League hasn't come as a surprise to Howard. Reflecting on his behaviour at Goodison Park, the American pinpointed how he would act like a sponge on tactical sessions.

"We would have team meetings, looking at tape and breaking down tactics," he said. "The manager would be in there but Mikel was always a major voice in the room, talking to other players, showing them even; 'We have to play here, you have to find the pass here'.

"He wasn't afraid to say; 'I see this, and this is how we need to do things'... He never clashed with Moyes. It was just a matter of getting certain players on the same page.

"Mikel didn't have to give you a dressing down. He was very stern and he would say to you; 'Timmy, it's not good enough'. And I never had to pop back at him. Because this guy walks the line. When he says it's not good enough, I have to look in the mirror and realise; he's right. And there were plenty of those days!

"In fact, Moyes made sure that he heaped a ton of responsibility on Mikel, to lead the team and direct us tactically. He wanted the responsibility, and he was able to shoulder it. He was Moyes' midfield general, his tactician, his little technical genius. The gaffer loved him - he could do no wrong in Moyes' eyes."

Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel

Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!

By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.

To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!

If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.