Arsenal defender, Swiss international Philippe Senderos, has joined Everton on loan for the remainder of the 2009/10 campaign.

 

The 24 year-old has been limited to cup appearances at the Emirates this season and has been keen to play first team football ahead of the World Cup to ensure his place in his national squad. With Lucas Neill having left Goodison to join Galatasaray of Turkey, David Moyes will be delighted to have secured the services of a player who he previously tried to sign. Senderos himself is also pleased to be on Merseyside.

"I can't wait to get stuck in and play for Everton. Hopefully, I can get some first-team football," he said, "I am here with high hopes and hopefully I can fulfil them."

With the departure of Neill and a hernia ruling Tony Hibbert out for a minimum of four weeks, Senderos’ desire for first team action may be a reality very quickly.

Another player without substantial action this term made a welcome return to action against Birmingham City. But David Moyes has stressed that Mikel Arteta will take take time to return to the type of fitness and form that made him one of the first names on the team sheet. "I am really pleased to have Mikel back because he is so important to us," said the Scot "He has had a week's training with us but not an awful lot of contact and he's had no match play, so I need everyone to realise it might be a month or so before we get Mikel properly back."