Recently by Mark Lawrenson

IT'S an indication of what a top quality footballer Everton have in their ranks that Mikel Arteta is even being talked about as a possibility for Spain's World Cup squad.

And it proves that his absence for the majority of the season has been the main reason why Everton could just fall short in their attempts to qualify for Europe this season.

Sunday was a prime example. When a team like West Ham come to Goodison Park and sit deep you need someone who can unlock the door and open teams up in tight situations.

THE saga with Jo is just another sad reality of modern football.

Players are allowed to be a law unto themselves simply because no amount of punishment can hurt them.

If Jo had gone to David Moyes in the first instance and explained that he needed to go back to Brazil for a personal mater it might have been looked upon more favourably.

LANDON DONOVAN will be another shrewd signing for David Moyes.

In fact, he'd have a little bet that his arrival could signal a change of fortunes all round at Goodison Park.

EVERTON and Liverpool went into Sunday's Merseyside derby as clubs in the midst of a something close to a crisis - and I think the game reflected that.

There was a real fear in the air and it made for a nervy game in which whoever got the first goal was always likely to emerge victorious.

But it also contained signs that both clubs can emerge from it and resurrect their seasons.

TWO big wins in the space of four days and things are looking much rosier for Everton.

It had been a tough first month of the season for David Moyes's side but one trait they've shown for a while now is that they don't play badly for long.

A morale-boosting thrashing of AEK Athens in their Europa League opener was followed up by a surprisingly easy disposal of Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

IT's the question I often dread the most - when someone asks me to make a prediction on the fortunes of Everton.

They have a habit of making you look stupid, bouncing back from adversity when all seems lost and defying the odds year after year.

But you have to base your opinions on facts and there are many inescapable ones hanging over the team in its current form.

IT might not have seemed the most enthralling victory of the season for Everton on Sunday.

In fact, it was almost embarrassingly easy against a team who should have been absolutely bombing given the state they are in.

EVERTON are facing their biggest challenge in the remainder of the season - but it won't be overcoming the absence of Phil Jagielka.

Yes, it is a great loss for them and you obviously have to be sad for a player who has contributed so much to their campaign.

Unfortunately someone, for one reason or another, always seems to miss a cup final and sadly for Jagielka, he's the one who has to suffer the pain this time.

THE way Everton and Manchester United are both playing there's certainly a chance that David Moyes's side can cause an upset in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday.

I'd like to think that Everton will do it - they certainly need it more than United.

As far as I'm concerned they can go into the game with no pressure at all but the way to get at United is to adopt an 'in their face' approach.

That's what Liverpool, Fulham, Porto and even Sunderland to some extent have done in recent weeks.

LAST week I touched on the fact that international breaks can either work in your favour or against you.

Liverpool managed to pick up where they left off and should have buried Fulham as easily as Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa before them.

But getting the three points was all that mattered. Unfortunately, United were saying the same after their own last-gasp win on Sunday, a result that might just give them the impetus they lost just ahead of the break.

And then there's Everton.