Everton have secured qualification for the UEFA Cup, barring freak results on Sunday's last day of the season which would rob them of their massive goal difference advantage.

And their Basque midfield star made it clear he has every intention of being involved in the Toffees' future despite constant interest from Spanish clubs, including Atletico Madrid and Real Zaragoza.

But Arteta, 25, is expected to be offered a new contract before next season starts, and clearly wants to see other key members of boss David Moyes' squad treated in the same way.

After last night's glittering awards dinner in Liverpool's St George's Hall, Arteta said: "Now we have European football next season, we must continue to build.

"That is massive for the club and for me, we need to take this opportunity now to take the club forward.

"We need to make the right decisions in the summer. We must sign the right people and keep the ones we have got here already.

"Then we will see where it takes us. We must, though, make sure we keep improving. Really we haven't done anything yet."

Arteta still has two years of his contract remaining, but the club are fully aware that he should be top of their list when it comes ensuring their best players are happy to stay at Goodison Park.

Arteta says: "I have already said I would like to stay, but it is up to the club now to decide what they want to do with me.

"The relationship I have with the crowd is something really special. They have been really nice with me, I appreciate that and it is something I value because it is not easy to have that kind of thing in football.

"I have said many times what I want to do, but now it is up to the club to decide what they want to do. I am happy to stay."

He added: "I am really pleased with the award, and I want to say thank you to everyone who voted for me. It is a great pleasure for me to have this trophy in my hands.

"But it is about the team, really. We have been really consistent, and from my point of view I have been scoring more goals. That is the part of my game that I needed to improve.

"But with the team doing so well this season, it has made it more possible for me to get forward, to get into the positions to score more.

"I am very proud of that. This season has been great, I wanted to forget what happened the previous campaign when things did not go as well.

"I have been at Everton now for two and a half years, and now I can see the progress. Fifth place would be a great way to finish in the Premiership and we can achieve that, even if it means getting something at Chelsea on Sunday."

And Arteta happily talked of his ambitions for next season, adding: "And as far as next season is concerned, I want to continue in the same vein. Goals are important and I have shown that I can score regularly now.

"That was something I wanted to improve on, I have worked hard in training to do that.

"But without my team-mates I know I wouldn't be holding this trophy. They have tried hard to help me into positions from which I can score.

"That is what this club is all about. Since I have been here I have felt really close to everyone, the players, the fans and the city. And that is something that is really important to me."

The former Barcelona and Rangers midfielder added: "We are confident Europe can be a regular thing now. The team has a lot of character and we have a great team spirit, and that relationship helps us through the bad moments.

"The manager and everybody here wants to stabilise the club by regularly qualifying for Europe."

And Arteta is still hoping to break into the Spain squad, something that Moyes is constantly touting him for.

He said: "As far as my international ambitions, all I can do is to keep showing everyone that I am good enough to play for Spain. That, in the end depends on the Spanish manager, all I can do is try to keep playing at this level and hope for the best.

"But for now we want to finish the job properly this season. We must try to get something from the game at Stamford Bridge, fifth place is better than sixth.

"They are still the champions, and we want to win against them, that is the target now."

Defender Joleon Lescott picked up the players' player of the year award while teenager James Vaughan was selected as both the club and the shareholders' young player of the year.