On transfer deadline day in 2011, Mikel Arteta was travelling from Liverpool to London to complete his move from Everton to Arsenal. At the last minute, there was a snag. In order to make the transfer happen, the Spaniard agreed to take a pay cut to offset concerns about his injury record and his age. His desire to join the club and play Champions League football was well known to Arsenal's negotiating team. Whether it was penny pinching or something else, they knew he wanted to come on board, and having told David Moyes he wanted to leave Everton after six and a half years, there was no turning back. He joined a bigger club but took a hit to his wages to do it. Later, after his value to...
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