Super Eagles legend names Mikel Arteta with J.J Okocha amongst best-ever teammates

Former Nigeria international Yakubu Aiyegbeni has named current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as one of the best players he shared a pitch with during his professional career.

​The retired striker praised the Spaniard's intelligence and vision during a recent interview, reflecting on their shared time together at Everton.

​Arteta originally joined Everton in 2005, while Yakubu arrived following a club-record transfer from Middlesbrough in 2007.

​Both players remained at Goodison Park until 2011, allowing their tenures to overlap for four years before they eventually departed the Merseyside club.

​During that period, Yakubu registered 107 total appearances for the Toffees, during which he scored 33 goals, benefiting from Arteta's creative service from midfield.

​He described the current Arsenal tactician as an exceptionally clever player who elevated the standard of those around him.

​"Arteta was special. He's another clever guy too, you know."

​Beyond his praise for Arteta, Yakubu highlighted several other elite teammates from his extensive club and international career.

​He specifically mentioned South African midfielder Steven Pienaar, whose initial spell at Everton between 2007 and 2011 coincided with Yakubu's entire tenure at the club.

​Yakubu also credited Israeli playmaker Eyal Berkovic, who he played alongside at Portsmouth.

​Berkovic featured for Portsmouth during the 2004/05 Premier League season, overlapping with Yakubu's time at Fratton Park between 2003 and 2005.

​"Eyal Berkovic, the Israeli guy, he's something special," Yakubu recalled.

​"He's so good with the ball. He's clever. He's got good vision, you know, with strikers."

​The striker's list of elite teammates extended to his time with the Nigerian national team, where he accumulated 21 goals in 57 caps between 2000 and 2012.

​He specifically named legendary Nigerian midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha, whose international career between 1993 and 2006 overlapped with Yakubu's first six years in the national setup. He also credited Kanu Nwakwo.

​At club level, Yakubu also praised Australian forward Mark Viduka, acknowledging the physical presence he provided during their time together at Middlesbrough.

​Viduka played for the Riverside outfit from 2004 to 2007, operating directly alongside Yakubu, who represented the club between 2005 and 2007.

​"You know, Mark Viduka was so special, you know, with his size; he can keep the ball, you know. It's really, really good," Yakubu concluded.