Mikel Arteta is looking for Everton to enjoy a productive Christmas and begin their push for European qualification in earnest.
Although lacking consistency so far this season, Everton in recent weeks have begun to show the heart and fight that have characterised their successful league campaigns in recent seasons.
Their win against Manchester City at the weekend typified the rediscovered belief that is beginning to flow through the Toffees' players again. Everton were forced to play Australian midfielder Tim Cahill as a lone centre-forward due to aninjury crisismeaning that no fit strikers were available to manager David Moyes.
Cahill scored in the dying seconds of the game to secure an inspiring victory and put Everton into seventh place in the table, only five points behind Arsenal in fifth and two behind Hull City in sixth.
And Arteta is confident that now the Merseysiders will put their stuttering start behind them and surge on to challenge for a European place once again.
"I think we had the same performance as against Aston Villa, but we didn’t make any mistakes," said Arteta of the victory. "We controlled the game, played well and created chances.
"I think we deserved to win. We were so happy in the dressing room. The reaction this season has been terrific. Every time we’ve had a bad game we have reacted as nobody could expect."
The midfielder also praised those players who'd had to fill in up front, Tim Cahill in particular.
"We played great football and then we scored in the last minute. It was beautiful! We have been so unlucky with injuries through the season, especially to key players.
"We showed great spirit with Tim (Cahill) up front and Felli (Marouane Fellaini)behind. We are still in the mix. That was a really important game because we could have ended up losing three or four positions.
"As it is, we remain close to the top six so hopefully we can keep going and have a good result against Chelsea [on Monday]."
Arteta's own form has improved recently after he was switched from playing on the flanks to a more central role, and manager David Moyes is backing him to maintain hiscurrent good progress.
"Mikel was terrific,"Moyes explained."Everyone knows his skill but all round he was good, in the way he defended and stuck with people.
"His talent is unquestionable. I’ve got no doubts the consistency will return. Mikel has been very good for us over the years and he’s trying to get back to the standards he’s set."
Zack Wilson, Goal.com
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