Emery upbeat despite defeat at Goodison

EVERTON 1

Jagielka 10

ARSENAL 0

Arsenal boss Unai Emery is remaining positive about their top-four hopes after insisting their destiny remainsintheirownhands despite a 1-0 defeat by Everton at Goodison Park.

A tenth-minute goal from Phil Jagielka, who was not in the team 30 minutes before kick-off but received a late call-up after illness ruled out Michael Keane, was enough to inflict a sixth away defeat of the season on the Gunners.

Arsenalcouldbeknocked out of the top four by Chelsea tonight, although they will have a match in hand.

“I am in my mind in the same as before the match,” said Emery. “We know it is going to be difficult and today was a very good opportunity to take the three points and go third, but after the result we are fourth and we need to be consistent. It is a bad result, not a good performance, but we are fourth.”

After waiting more than two years for a win over one of the league’s big six, Everton now have two in successive home matches following last month’s victory over Chelsea.

“Delighted. Everything that we did since the first minute, the desire, the fantastic spirit and we deserved the three points,” said manager Marco Silva.