Mikel Arteta rues missed chance for injury-ravaged Everton
RUEFUL Mikel Arteta believes Everton missed a "great chance" to end their winless run against Chelsea on Monday night.
The Goodison outfit played almost an hour against 10 men after John Terry was dismissed for a crude first-half challenge on Leon Osman.
But despite a dominant performance, David Moyes's side couldn't find a way past Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech meaning they have now gone 21 games without victory against the Londoners - the longest ever unbeaten run of any team against Everton.
And Arteta admits the Goodison outfit should have earned more than a goalless draw.
"It's not a bad result, but the way we played and the chances we created, compared to the chances Chelsea created, we should have managed to win the game," said the Spanish schemer. "We had the chances but couldn't score, and that's what cost us.
"We had a great chance to beat Chelsea, and chances like that don't come around too often. So we are disappointed. But we know the crowd enjoyed the game, they really got behind us and we needed that."
Everton travel to Middlesbrough on Boxing Day with injury concerns surrounding Leon Osman and Joseph Yobo.
Osman underwent an x-ray yesterday on the ankle injury sustained in the challenge that saw Terry red-carded.
Yobo limped off midway through the second half with a hamstring problem and, while not officially ruled out of Friday's Riverside date, is unlikely to play again this year.
"Joseph has a small hamstring strain," said Everton head of physio Mick Rathbone. "We've sent him for an MRI scan which I expect to confirm he has a strain. He'll probably be out for a couple of weeks.
"Leon Osman got a bad knock. Full marks to him he played on through the game but he's obviously sore and hobbling and badly swollen."
Meanwhile, Everton's FA Cup third round tie at Macclesfield Town on January 3 is being beamed back to Goodison Park.
The 'live' viewing is for season ticket holders only and admission is free, with tickets limited to one per season ticket holder. "We hope as many season ticket holders as possible take advantage of this free screening of our third round tie with Macclesfield," said acting chief executive Robert Elstone.
"We are constantly looking at various ways of improving our Season Ticket offering and believe giving access to live FA Cup football demonstrates our ongoing commitment."
Supporters wishing to attend are advised to either visit the Park End Box Office or call 0871 663 1878 quoting their customer number.
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