Arteta tames Tigers in 5-1 win

Arteta scores the opener past Boaz Myhill at Goodison Park [GALLO/GETTY]

Everton climbed to eighth in the English Premier League as Mikel Arteta continued his rehabilitation with two goals in a 5-1 home thrashing of Hull City.

The Spanish midfielder, getting back to his best having recovered from a serious knee injury, volleyed his first goal in more than a year after 17 minutes and put Everton 2-1 up six minutes before half time after a clever backheel by Steven Pienaar.

In between his goals, Everton striker Ayegbeni Yakubu had a penalty saved by Boaz Myhill and 19-year-old Tom Cairney briefly put Hull level with a well-struck 20-metre shot.

Arteta, growing in confidence with each minute of his comeback, had a moral claim for a hat-trick when Everton went 3-1 up six minutes into the second half but his cross-shot went in off Richard Garcia for an own goal.

On-loan American striker Landon Donovan marked what could be his last game for the club with Everton’s fourth after 82 minutes then set up Jack Rodwell for the fifth soon after.

In the mire

The result on Sunday put Hull deep in the relegation mire.

Phil Brown’s side would have moved out of the Premier League’s bottom three with a draw but instead remain third bottom of the table.

It was Everton’s sixth-straight home win in the league – with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea among their victims – and their biggest of the season.

Having been knocked out of the Europa League by Sporting Lisbon last week, Everton’s drive up the table could see them reprise their continental adventures next year having suffered a poor start to the season this term.

Meanwhile the FA Cup draw on Sunday saw Aston Villa drawn against Chelsea, while Fulham or Tottenham will play Portsmouth.

Villa beat Reading 4-2 in their quarter-final while Chelsea beat Stoke City 2-0.

Portsmouth swept past Birmingham 2-0 on Saturday while Spurs and Fulham will replay their tie after a 0-0 draw.