Everton boss David Moyes expects Mikel Arteta's game to go up a level now that he has signed his new deal.
Moyes reckons the speculation about the player's future was affecting Arteta's form during their pre-season campaign.
But now the Everton manager is backing the 28-year-old to make a real impact this season starting with Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener at Blackburn.
Moyes told The Liverpool Echo: "When you have good players there is always a feeling you can lose them to other clubs. But we are a good team now and I think the players realise that.
"Mikel is a massive part of that. Hopefully his focus will be a bit better now. He has been a little mixed up in recent weeks with different things.
"He got married and there's been the stuff about his contract. But now we can start getting him focused and get the proper Mikel back."
