Everton midfielder Fabian Delph has paid tribute to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

Delph spent three years working with Arteta at Manchester City, where the former Everton and Arsenal player was assistant to Pep Guardiola.

It was Arteta who persuaded the 30-year-old to stay at City when he was on the brink of quitting, and then switch to the left-back role that eventually brought him two winners' medals in the Premier League.

"Mikel was incredible for me," Delph told BBC 5 Live Sport. "He was the reason why I stayed in the team as long as I did. I owe everything to him.

"I knew he would end up as a manager," said Delph.

"He was fantastic with me, always very honest. In my first year at City, I had been hit and miss with injuries. I didn't play as much as I liked and had the opportunity to go.

"Mikel said 'I don't want you to leave. I feel there is a spot here. The way we want to play is different to what a lot of people have seen but you are very capable of doing it'.

"We worked on it a few times in training and I decided to stay. Everything he said came true."