Everton are moving forward, but all the same, David Moyes’ return has created a nostalgic feel to this Goodison Park, who are poignantly and perhaps fittingly preparing to depart for Bramley Moore.
A new era begins with an old dog, but Moyes is proven on Merseyside and indeed elsewhere, leading West Ham United through three successive campaigns on the continent and indeed winning the Conference League in 2022/23.
Can he lead the Toffees back to a rich and lasting period? Moyes has already got to work shaping Sean Dyche’s squad to his design, with one member in particular carrying the qualities to become the Scot’s next version of Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta under Moyes' wing
Younger Premier League fans will exclusively recognise Arteta for his time in the Arsenal dugout, taking a meandering outfit back to the forefront of domestic and European football.
However, he once roamed Premier League pitches at the heart of Arsene Wenger’s Gunners midfield, and before that, Moyes’ Everton.
Intelligent, silky and dynamic, Arteta bridged gaps between central- and attacking-midfield berths, with Moyes hailing him as a “complete” and “conscientious” player during the duo’s marriage.
Across 209 Everton appearances (all with Moyes at the helm), Arteta proved himself to be one of the most technically gifted footballers in the top flight from the offing, making the move to north London in August 2011 for a £10m fee after informing the Blues he wanted out and was willing to take a pay cut to make it happen.
It’s perhaps a testament to Moyes’ adoration of Arteta’s style during his playing days that he instantly moved to sign his next version of the Spanish maestro when arriving at Everton back in January.
Everton's new Arteta
Everton’s recruitment has been generally shoddy over the past decade, but Dyche and departing Director of Football Kevin Thelwell did make one or two good moves before leaving.
Chalkboard
It means Moyes has got players such as Iliman Ndiaye, Beto and Jake O’Brien to fashion into shape, all showing positive signs in recent months. However, the 61-year-old did need to dip into the winter market to sign Charly Alcaraz on loan from Brasileiro Serie A club Flamengo.
Everton have the option to sign the attacking midfielder permanently for a shrewd £12m fee at the end of the season, and on the basis of the early evidence, the 22-year-old has talent in spades and could become a high-class player in Moyes’ system.
Positionally, Alcaraz has been around the block.
Although, saying that, the Argentina youth international has also partaken in a nomadic journey across the opening years of his career, Everton being his fifth club as a professional.
He even joined Juventus on loan last season, with the Serie A giants deciding against activating the £40m clause to land his signature for good. Even so, it denotes the high regard Alcaraz is held in.
Central midfield
74
10
5
Attacking midfield
19
4
2
Right winger
14
4
2
Centre-forward
10
2
2
Defensive midfield
9
1
0
Left winger
7
1
2
Right-back
1
0
0
Journalist Antonio Mango described him as a “special talent” in the past and it’s clear to see why. Alcaraz has the qualities to become a multi-functional general in the same vein as Arteta, especially when looking at his athletic ability through the lens of FBref’s data.
Though he hasn’t yet played enough in England for his metrics to be recorded, FBref record that Alcaraz ranks among the top 7% of midfielders in the Brazilian first tier in 2024 for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.
Shot-creating actions are pieces of play that lead to a shot. These include moments such as a pass, take-on or foul being drawn.
He’s got a range of attack-focused skills to damage Everton’s opponents, but also a combative and hard-working side that will see him find true success in Moyes’ system.
Arteta was renowned for his passing, but he also played out on the right wing and later shifted into a deeper-lying midfield berth. Alcaraz has natural-born creativity and an energetic approach besides, but he’s actually begun to showcase maturity in defensive phases, making an impression at Goodison Park.
Let’s examine that in closer detail.
Alcaraz has played five times in the Premier League so far for Everton, enjoying a goal-and-assist performance against Crystal Palace during a February win at Selhurst Park.
But he’s played his role and played it well over the past several weeks, with Sofascore noting the South American has won 52% of his ground duels at Everton having completed 82% of his passes and created four big chances along the way.
This bodes well indeed. The £20k-per-week star is proving he can grow as a player and contribute across different phases of any particular contest.
In 2022/23, when he plied his trade with imperilled Southampton, Alcaraz won only 36% of his duels and created just one big chance across 18 Premier League outings. There was a player in there to be sure, but he was unrefined and could hardly have been expected to offer more than he did – scoring four goals – for a wayward outfit spinning toward relegation.
Moyes has only welcomed one player to the Everton first team so far, and in Alcaraz, he might just find a long-term star, especially with Abdoulaye Doucoure reaching the end of his contract this summer.
He’s already shifted between attacking and more central midfield roles for Everton this season, and indeed has all the trappings of a budding maestro in the middle of the field, one who could see Moyes restore the spirit of Arteta to his new-look Everton team.
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