Mikel Arteta has opened up on the serious injury he suffered against Newcastle while playing for Everton in 2009.
The Spaniard was stretchered off the pitch during the Blues' 0-0 draw with the Magpies at St James' Park having suffered knee ligament damage, days after receiving his first call-up for the Spain national side.
The issue kept Arteta out for almost a year, with his return coming as a substitute in an FA Cup game against Birmingham City in January 2010.
After multiple operations and an infection during his spell on the sidelines, the now-Arsenal head coach admitted the injury was the toughest part of his career.
But, ahead of the Gunners' visit to St James' Park on Sunday, the former Man City coach also believes he took a lot from his time off the pitch.
Arteta told the Daily Mail: "Probably [it was the hardest day of my career]. It was one of the toughest parts of my professional career but the one I learned most from.
"I took a lot from that. It was a big challenge, at some stages I thought it was going to be over when I had an infection and they didn't know what it was and it was looking bad.
"It took me almost a year to get back to playing. After I recovered my form, I started to perform well and I joined Arsenal.
"I think it was a good thing. At the time I could not see it. But it was a very challenging time in my career that I had to go over. I had to rebuild myself to do that."
Arteta continued to play for Everton until making a controversial deadline day move to Arsenal in August 2011, having made 209 appearances and scored 35 goals in royal blue.
The Gunners named their former midfielder as their head coach in December, replacing Unai Emery, and Carlo Ancelotti's side will travel to the Emirates Stadium for their next fixture in a week's time.
