Bucharest challenge send Everton's Arteta to hospital

Everton have hit out at Dinamo Bucharest after a violent challenge sent Mikel Arteta, pictured on the ground, to hospital. The Spanish midfielder was kept in hospital overnight following a challenge by Mihaita Plesan on the stroke of full time in Everton's 1-0 UEFA Cup win. Plesan was only booked for leaving Arteta with a suspected neck injury after a brutal lunge as the visitors progressed 5-2 on aggregate

Everton have hit out at Dinamo Bucharest after a violent challenge sent Mikel Arteta to hospital.

The Spanish midfielder was kept in hospital overnight following a challenge by Mihaita Plesan on the stroke of full time in Everton's 1-0 UEFA Cup win.

Plesan was only booked for leaving Arteta with a suspected neck injury after a brutal lunge as the visitors progressed 5-2 on aggregate.

Tim Cahill, who scored the Everton goal, said he feared for his team-mate after he suffered a fit on the Goodison Park pitch.

"It was an elbow in the back of the head - when I saw Mikel shaking I was a bit worried.".

Arteta later came round in the dressing room in front of his concerned family.

Everton manager David Moyes felt Plesan was lucky to stay on the pitch.

"I thought it was a bad challenge. It was more than tough," he said.

"Mikel had a fit and had to be treated. He is going to stay in hospital for observation so there are no other problems.

"Speaking to the surgeon, he thinks it is a neck injury. But he is fine.

"If Duncan (Ferguson) had tried that he would have been sent off."

Everton exited the UEFA Cup just as they had done the Champions League but at least they regained that winning mentality after eight defeats in nine games.

Cahill scored the winner with a diving header for his first goal of the campaign and he hopes they can kick on from this victory.

"It was such a big task but we decided to put everything in because the fans deserve it, " he said. "It's only 1-0 but it's a good start for us.

"We had a lot of chances and got the ball wide - but it didn't fall for us. But we tried really hard and put in a great performance."

Everton should have taken the lead before Cahill's goal but James McFadden missed a clear chance when he hooked his effort wide from six yards after Duncan Ferguson's flick on.

Moyes was pleased with the way his side played.

"The players did all we asked of them," he said. "When you are down 5-1 from the first leg, you don't how they are going to react.

"They made as good a game of it as they could and tried to get the goals back in the first half. It was a terrific effort."