Arteta Still Harbours Spanish Ambition

Mikel Arteta is still hoping that he will become an integral part of the Spain team, with the Arsenal midfielder continuing to improve for the Gunners since his summer move.

Arteta featured for the Spanish Under 21 side until 2003, but the 29 year old has never been able to make the cut for the senior side, with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andres Iniesta to compete with.

But he still hasn't given up on his ambitions to feature for the side, with Arteta hoping that a move to a club as big as Arsenal will give him the chance.

"My ambition is to win as many trophies as I can and to have the chance of playing for the national team one day," he told Arsenal Player.

Arteta was brought into the Arsenal fold as a replacement of sorts for Cesc Fabregas, who departed the club in the summer to return to his first club Barcelona.

While he has taken some time to find his feet for the Gunners, the midfielder is now an important part of the squad, and they are now in the mix for Champions League qualification after suffering from their worst start to a season in over 50 years.

But even though Arteta will find it all the more difficult getting into the Spain team, with Xavi and Fabregas playing so well for the Catalan giants, he says that Xavi in particular has been an inspiration during his career, which also started at the Barcelona youth team.

"I have always been a big fan of Xavi," he explained.

"I played and trained with him when I was young. For me consistency is a big thing and he gets rated either eight out of 10 or nine out of 10 every time he plays and he plays 60 or 70 times a year. He is a top, top player for me."

Arteta will be hoping to be on form for Arsenal this weekend as the club prepare to face Liverpool; while the Gunners are in the top four now, they are still level on points with Chelsea, and just seven points in front of the Reds. A win will be essential as the club aim for another Champions League season.