The best little Spaniard we know is back!

Mikel Arteta gave the clearest indication yet that he's back to his best following nearly 12 months of injury hell by scoring twice and inspiring Everton to a 5-1 win over Hull.

His first after 16 minutes was the result of a burst into the box and a clinical connection to Yakubu's cross and his second was calmly sidefooted home on 38 minutes after Yakubu had missed a penalty.

He was also the main protagonist in Everton's third when Richard Garcia headed the Spaniard's cross into his own net five minutes into the second period.

Hull had briefly been level at 1-1 through Tom Cairney's excellent left-foot strike but once the lead was regained the Blues were comfortable.

There was even time for Landon Donovan to sign off from his last home game before returning to America by scoring the fourth goal himself and setting up Rodwell for the fifth.

After five minutes Tim Howard saved well from Garcia but from then on it was Everton who had the majority of the play.

Steadied by the Phil Jagielka at the back - the defender starting for the first time since his own return from injury - and with John Heitinga mopping up in midfield, the Blues set about their task with real purpose.

Arteta served early warning of his mood when he slashed a volley wide after a swift Everton counter and in the 13th min Yakubu picked up Leon Osman's poked through ball and sent a left foot effort off the post with Myhill beaten.

Yakubu then turned provider for the opening goal after 17 minutes. His deep ball from the Everton left was guided home at the far post by Arteta, the Spaniard on the scoresheet for the first time since returning from a knee ligament injury in January.

The lead should have been doubled on 28 minutes when Baines' cross was picked up at the near post by Yakubu who was clumsily fouled by Kamil Zayatte.

The Nigerian picked himself up but his tame spot-kick was saved. Replays showed that Myhill was well off his line but Yakubu's penalty was weak.

It looked as though the mistake would be a telling one just three minutes later when Cairney picked up a loose ball on the edge of the Everton box and lashed an exquisite left foot volley past Howard. In netting the equaliser the 19-year-old was scoring his first Premier League goal.

But rather than being rattled by the leveller, the Blues continued to probe and duly regained the lead in the 39th minute. Anichebe was released on the right, his centre found Pienaar and the South African deftly rolled the ball behind him to Arteta.

The Spaniard was left with the simple task of side-footing past Myhill to restore Everton's advantage.

It was a deserved lead but there was an injury worry for David Moyes before the break as Osman limped off injured to be replaced by Rodwell.

Six minutes into the second period it was 3-1. Arteta's chipped cross was drifting under the Hull crossbar before it flicked Garcia and crossed Myhill's line. The Everton man was grinning but the effort will surely go down as an own goal.

The Toffees were utterly dominant and from Pienaar's break, Rodwell had a shot deflected wide by Cairney before Myhill saved from Sylvain Distin after the hour mark.

Yakubu wasted a good chance midway through the period and soon Landon Donovan was on to replace Anichebe.

Not long after his introduction the American fed the Yak but on this occasion, he didn't score - sending a left footer way over the bar.

Soon it was Donovan's turn to have a sight of goal as Leighton Baines' cross went all the way along the edge of the six yard box. The American lashed it back across goal and into the corner, and Goodison erupted into chants of 'USA'.

Donovan wasn't done there though, centring for Rodwell to steer home the fifth with four minutes left.

And when the final whistle went Donovan went on a lap of honour - he has just one game for Everton left and the Blues fans were vociferous in their thanks for his efforts.