Everton two good for Boro
Mikel Arteta proved just how crucial he is to the Everton cause by returning to inspire a 2-0 Premier League victory over Middlesbrough.
As well as having a hand in goals from free-scoring defender Joleon Lescott and a first in English football for the on-loan Steven Pienaar, the Spanish midfielder was outstanding throughout on his comeback from injury.
He was sorely missed in last weekend's defeat at Aston Villa and the UEFA Cup draw against Metalist Kharkiv and was simply too cute for Boro.
The visitors lacked such a figure, but of more concern would have been their impotence in attack, with Mido and Lee Dong-Gook failing to impress.
Everton were looking to bounce back from two straight league defeats, while Boro had not won in their last three in all competitions.
It did not take long for the scoring to begin, Arteta proving his worth with a testing eighth-minute corner which Yakubu glanced goalward and although Jonathan Woodgate headed off the line, Lescott was first to react, nodding the rebound into the opposite corner of the net.
Five minutes later and Boro wasted a glorious opportunity to level. Mido headed a cross down to the unmarked Gary O'Neil, who had time to steady himself but still scuffed his finish straight at Tim Howard.
Both sides were then guilty of glaring headed misses, Yakubu first when he somehow sent over a pinpoint Leighton Baines cross following a clever corner routine before Lee's effort from O'Neil's centre cannoned off the crossbar.
The Toffees doubled their lead in controversial style when Pienaar injured Boateng winning the ball 30 yards from goal, and the Boro skipper was still hobbling when Arteta broke into the box before squaring for the South African to slide a low finish across Schwarzer and into the net.
