Mikel Arteta knows how to get a team over the line in the tightest of title races... just ask Rangers

Rangers captain Barry Ferguson had missed twice from the spot at Dens Park three weeks earlier and, as the tightest of title races headed for final day drama, manager Alex McLeish needed to know who was taking over penalty duties.

In the changing room at Murray Park, two players stuck up their hands. One of the volunteers was Spanish youngster Mikel Arteta, who’d bailed out the distraught Ferguson at Dundee by converting Rangers’ third penalty of that remarkable match, with five minutes to go, to salvage a precious point and keep their SPL hopes alive.

The former Barcelona and PSG midfielder had shown maturity way beyond his years and treble-chasing McLeish, in his first full season as Rangers manager, was happy to hand Arteta the responsibility as the Old Firm title tussle went right down to the wire in May 2003.

That amazing championship finale featured Rangers playing Dunfermline at Ibrox and Celtic facing Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Both were on 94 points, both had a goal difference of +68. Only goals scored could separate the dynamic duo going into that sensational Sunday. Rangers were two better off.

McLeish recalls: ‘We sorted out before every game who would take a penalty if there was one. Barry had missed a couple, despite having enjoyed an incredible goalscoring season, and that meant there were really no arguments about who was going to take on the responsibility. A couple of hands had gone up when I asked the question and Arteta’s was one of them. That was good enough for me.’

And, of course, with goals flying in at both grounds, it all came down to a late penalty at Ibrox. Three minutes into end-of-match stoppage time and the title rivals were still locked together on identical points and goal difference. The SPL