Arteta pleased with Everton style

Arteta has relished being in the thick of the midfield action

Mikel Arteta has said he believes Everton's injury crisis has had a positive impact on their style of play.

Arteta, 26, has switched to central midfield with Tim Cahill playing as a lone striker, following injuries to the club's four senior strikers.

"Cahill and [Marouane] Fellaini have been terrific up front, they create lots of problems for defenders," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"That gives freedom for [Leon] Osman and [Stephen] Pienaar."

David Moyes' men were hit by injuries to strikers James Vaughan, Victor Anichebe, Yakubu and Louis Saha within weeks of each other.

Everyone is going to enjoy [watching] it more and when you have the ball Mikel Arteta

As a consequence the Blues have had to vary their play over the last month as they do not have a recognised target man to aim for.

And Arteta believes it has led to his side, who have won three of their last four matches, to play a more pleasing style of football.

"Everyone is going to enjoy [watching] it more and when you have the ball, they [the opposition] can't score so that's the best way to defend any result," he added.

"You put teams in trouble because you keep putting the ball in the box, making crosses and shooting and then our chances to win the game increase."