Lescott opens for Everton against Boro..

Mikel Arteta proved just how crucial he is to the Everton cause by returning to inspire 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 first round first leg draw against Metalist Kharkiv and was simply too good for Boro today.

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.

It did not take long for the scoring to begin either, Arteta proving his worth with a testing eighth-minute corner which Yakubu glanced goalward. Jonathan Woodgate headed off the line but 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. Lee followed when his effort from O'Neil's centre cannoned off the crossbar.

Arteta was back in the thick of things when he secured Everton of a two-goal cushion.

Arteta broke into the box before squaring to South African Pienaar to slide a low finish across Mark Schwarzer into the net.