Mikel Arteta aimed further swipes at Morten Gamst Pedersen in the aftermath of Everton’s last-gasp victory at Ewood Park, but none quite as reprehensible as the poke in the eye that grubbied his otherwise fine display.
Accusations of ‘previous’ rang from Arteta’s lips, as did an apology for his moment of nastiness. There will be no further inquisition for the Spanish midfielder, given that the referee Andre Marriner assessed the unsavoury incident as worthy of a yellow card, unless the official says in his report that he merely witnessed physical confrontation rather than a raised arm. Only then, under Football Association disciplinary guidelines, can retrospective action be taken.
Arteta was not expected back from a groin tear for another fortnight but gave a matador’s interpretation of the midfield art among Blackburn’s bulls. However, his composure on the ball was not replicated when Pedersen caught him late in the 20th minute. “I probably shouldn’t have reacted like I did but there have been a few times – not just in this match – when he’s made bad tackles,” said the Spaniard. “I don’t mind it when they’re fair or tough, I accept it with no problem. But with him it’s different and he knows that – I told him after it as well.
“But I made a mistake, I shouldn’t have reacted and I apologise for it. I probably got more upset because I was out for so long and don’t want a stupid challenge like that injuring me again.”
Sam Allardyce was among the Rovers hordes who reckoned Arteta’s afternoon should have ended early for a different reason. “By the letter of the law it is a red card but, once again, the referee has got it wrong,” said the Blackburn manager. This was Arteta’s 10th league appearance of the season, making one wonder how much further up the table Everton would have been with double that number. His early penalty was his fifth goal and he was at the hub of Everton’s invention, after committing himself to the long-shot quest of Europa League qualification – by the final whistle they were one point shy of seventh-placed Aston Villa, having played two games more.
“It was a risk, but we had to take a risk because if we hadn’t won that was it for us in Europe,” said Arteta. “I told the gaffer that I’d play if he wanted me to.” Neither was David Moyes averse to gambling at one of Everton’s happy hunting grounds – they are now unbeaten in six league games at Blackburn’s stronghold – throwing on Yakubu as a second striker to devastating effect a dozen minutes from the end.
A flick from the Nigerian international’s forehead, his first touch, put Everton 2-1 ahead and his cunning spin and cross set up Tim Cahill’s 90th-minute tap-in. It kicked Moyes’ men’s filthy habit of relinquishing points at the fag end of games, having allowed West Ham and Aston Villa to snatch late equalisers this month.
Although they resolutely defended the barrage of long-throw and dead-ball deliveries into their 18-yard box, that prospect reared itself once more when Blackburn, loth to allow their proud home record to be tarnished without a skirmish, twice levelled through exquisite long rangers from Steven Nzonzi and Jason Roberts. Ultimately, however, they could not avert only their second defeat on home turf since the opening day.
But there are signs of progress, with Allardyce claiming Nzonzi, £500,000 from Amiens, as the coup signing of 2009-10. “There is not a better find for the consistency he has shown over the season. He is noticeable by his size and aerial strength. He has managed to hang in there and andcoped with the pressure on him every week, to play more than people might have expected.”
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